North Korea's Kim preparing daughter as next leader: Seoul

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is preparing his daughter to succeed him, though the selection is not final, according to South Korean lawmakers briefed by their main spy agency.

Kim Ju Ae, whose age has not been publicly confirmed, has been seen with her father at various events, triggering speculation she has been chosen as the fourth generation of the Kim family to lead the nation. She is believed to be between 10 and 12 years old.

North Korea has put forward Ju Ae as a strong candidate to succeed her father by adjusting the frequency of her public appearances to gauge public sentiment, said Lee Seong-kweun of South Korea's ruling People Power Party and Park Sun-won of the main opposition Democratic Party, citing the National Intelligence Service, or NIS.

"Pyongyang is teaching Kim Ju Ae to be heir apparent, indicating she's the most likely successor," Lee told reporters on Monday. 

More than half of her public appearances with her father were related to military activity, such as overseeing exercises, the NIS added. 

Ju Ae was referred to as a "great person of guidance," or "hyangdo" in Korean, by the North's state media in March, a term typically reserved for top leaders and their successors.

"Considering the word 'hyangdo' was used, which is only reserved for a leader or successor, the NIS is assessing the succession plan is in shape to some extent," the Democratic Party's Park told reporters.

However, the spy agency has not ruled out the possibility that another sibling could emerge as an potential alternative in the succession plan, Park added, given North Korea had not made an official succession announcement.

Kim in poor health?

First introduced to the world in 2022, Ju Ae was once thought to be her father's second child. 

It is believed Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju have three children - two daughters and a son - although their existence has never been officially confirmed by the North.

Meanwhile, the NIS was quoted as saying that Kim appears to have health issues, weighing 140 kg and at high risk of heart disease, likely due to stress, smoking and drinking.

Kim is believed to have shown symptoms of high blood pressure and diabetes since his early 30s, according to the spy agency. 

The NIS also said there are signs that Kim is looking for alternative medicinal substances, leading to speculation he could have conditions that are difficult to deal with using his current medicine.

Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, emerged from the throes of World War II to become the state founder and his father, Kim Jong Il, ruled until his death in 2011.

Kim Yo Jong as regent?

Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, told RFA Korean that he was skeptical about the Kim Ju Ae as successor theory.

He said in both of North Korea's previous power transitions, both Kim Jong Un and his father Kim Jong Il were presented to the public  as  military strategists superior to the country's generals, whereas Kim Ju Ae is still seen as a child.

Klingner said that should something happen to Kim Jong Un, there is a higher possibility that his sister Kim Yo Jong, herself a high-ranking government official, would be designated as the successor or take on a proxy role as Kim Ju Ae's regent.

At the same time, he predicted that in order to solidify Kim Ju Ae as a successor, propaganda activities would begin to show her off.

Harry Kazianis, a senior director of the U.S. Center for the National Interest, told RFA that he expects Kim Ju Ae to be the next leader to succeed General Secretary Kim, but that she will need to be in her mid-20s or later to gain sufficient education and experience.

He also said that Kim Yo Jong would likely serve as regent for her niece if necessary, but also pointed out that there is the possibility of causing chaos within North Korea by not relinquishing power.