North Korea's Kim positioning daughter as successorNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae stand at a hotel reception counter as they attend an inauguration ceremony for hotels in the tourist resort in Samjiyon City. (Photo: Reuters)SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be taking steps to consolidate his daughter's position as successor, ​and there are signs ⁠she is providing input on policy matters, South Korean lawmakers said on Thursday, citing a spy agency briefing. South Korea's National Intelligence Agency (NIS) will be closely watching whether the daughter, ‌believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, attends an upcoming meeting of the ruling Workers' Party and how she is presented, including whether she takes on any official title, the lawmakers said. "In the ⁠past, the NIS described Kim Ju Ae as being 'in study as successor' but today the expression used was that she 'was in the stage of being internally appointed successor'," lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun told reporters following a closed-door briefing from the NIS. It remains unclear, however, ⁠whether it will be nuclear powered or ​operationally functional as designed, the lawmakers said, citing the spy agency's analysis.

Source: Bangkok Post February 13, 2026 12:50 UTC