South Korea Still Probes If Kim Jong Un Has Son, Says Daughter’s Heir Status Solid

South Korea is still trying to determine whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has a son, but its spy agency said Thursday that his teenage daughter remains the likely heir to the country’s leadership.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it was continuing to verify reports that Kim may have an elder son. However, the agency said that even if a son exists, he is currently not considered to be in a position to succeed Kim. The NIS also said Kim has a younger child whose gender has not been confirmed.

The latest assessment reaffirms the agency’s view that Kim's daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and believed to be around 13, is likely being positioned to eventually take over from her father.

The NIS did not provide detailed reasons Thursday for its assessment of Ju Ae’s political standing. It had previously cited a comprehensive analysis of her public appearances and the state protocols accorded to her.

Ju Ae has accompanied Kim to several high profile events since late 2022, including missile launches and major military parades. North Korean state media has described her as Kim's “most beloved” or “respected” child, while repeatedly highlighting their close relationship.

The latest statement appears to respond to a recent media report claiming South Korean intelligence had determined that Kim does not have a son with his wife, Ri Sol Ju. The NIS has not confirmed that conclusion and says it is still investigating.

Reports about Ju Ae’s identity first gained wider attention after former NBA star Dennis Rodman said he had held Kim’s baby daughter during his 2013 visit to Pyongyang. In 2023, a South Korean lawmaker said the NIS had informed lawmakers that Kim had an older son, although the agency later indicated that the information remained unverified.

The question is significant because North Korea has never had a female leader. Since the country was established in 1948, power has remained within the Kim family, passing from Kim Il Sung to his son Kim Jong Il and then to Kim Jong Un.

Some experts question whether North Korea’s traditionally male dominated political elite would accept a woman as supreme leader. Others warn that Ju Ae’s eventual marriage could create uncertainty over whether power remains within the Kim family.

At 42, Kim Jong Un is also relatively young to formally designate a successor. Experts say publicly naming an heir too early could potentially weaken his own authority.