South Korean intelligence agencies are attempting to verify whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has a secret son. However, the agency stated that even if such a son exists, he is not currently in a position to succeed Kim.
In a statement issued last Thursday (September 10), South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) noted that efforts to confirm the existence of a son for Kim Jong Un are still ongoing.
Kim Jong Un, now 42, assumed power in North Korea following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011.
The NIS reiterated its previous assessment that Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, is the likely successor to lead North Korea after her father. Kim Ju Ae is believed to be around 13 years old.
However, South Korean intelligence agencies are still trying to confirm whether Kim Ju Ae has an older brother.
The NIS stated that even if an older brother exists, he is not currently positioned to succeed his father.
The NIS also reported that Kim Jong Un has another younger child, though the gender of that child has not yet been confirmed.
The NIS statement did not provide details regarding the strength of Kim Ju Ae’s political standing. However, the agency had previously assessed her political position by analyzing her public activities and the state protocols accorded to her.
This statement from the NIS is believed to be a response to a recent report published by a South Korean media outlet.
That report claimed South Korean intelligence officials had confirmed that Kim Jong Un’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, did not have a son.
Growing Speculation Surrounding Kim Ju Ae
Since late 2022, Kim Ju Ae has appeared alongside her father at numerous significant North Korean events, including missile launches and major military parades. North Korean state media has referred to her as Kim Jong Un’s “most beloved” or “respected” child.
At the same time, they have regularly released photos and videos highlighting her close relationship with her father and her rising political stature.
In 2023, a South Korean lawmaker revealed that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had informed a parliamentary committee that Kim Ju-ae has an older brother.
However, the intelligence agency later clarified that reports regarding the existence of a son were still being verified.
Why is the existence of an older brother significant regarding the succession?
Whether Kim Ju-ae has an older brother is a key factor in international discussions about the potential succession of power in North Korea. This is due to the country’s deeply entrenched patriarchal system and male-dominated power structure.
Since North Korea’s founding in 1948, all three of the country’s leaders have been male members of the Kim family. Before Kim Jong Un, his father, Kim Jong Il, and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, held power.
