Kim Jong Un’s 13-year-old heir faces potential power clash with influential aunt

Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter may face succession battle with powerful aunt, report says

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly positioned his 13-year-old daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his chosen successor, setting the stage for what analysts warn could become a dangerous power struggle within the ruling family.

According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Ju Ae is being groomed to inherit control of the nuclear-armed state despite her young age. The agency has pointed to her increasingly frequent public appearances alongside her father at high-profile events, including missile launches, military parades and factory inaugurations, as evidence of her rising status.

Observers note that her emergence as heir apparent could put her on a collision course with her aunt, Kim Yo Jong, who is widely regarded as one of the most powerful figures in Pyongyang. Kim Yo Jong, 38, holds significant political and military influence and is often described as the second most powerful person in the country.

Former South Korean intelligence official Rah Jong Yil told The Telegraph that a succession battle is “probable,” suggesting that Kim Yo Jong could move to assert her own claim to leadership if circumstances allow.

North Korea’s ruling dynasty has a history of brutal internal purges. After taking power in 2011, Kim Jong Un ordered the arrest and execution of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, on charges of anti-state activities. In 2017, his half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, was assassinated in Malaysia using the VX nerve agent.

Ju Ae first appeared publicly in November 2022 at a long-range missile test and has since accompanied her father to an expanding range of strategic events. She also attended his summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling her growing prominence on the international stage.

While North Korea has traditionally maintained male-dominated leadership, South Korean intelligence officials believe Ju Ae’s visible role suggests she is being prepared to continue the Kim dynasty. Whether that transition would unfold smoothly, however, remains an open question.