South Korea says credible intelligence indicates Kim Jong Un’s daughter is being positioned as his eventual successor

(SeaPRwire) –   South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has determined that the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is being groomed as his eventual successor, according to statements from lawmakers on Monday reported by Reuters.

The NIS informed legislators that this conclusion is based on “credible intelligence” gathered by the agency, as detailed in briefings by members of both the ruling and opposition parties following a private parliamentary hearing.

Video released last month showed Kim and his daughter positioned on a tank.

Lawmakers noted that the intelligence agency believes the footage of the girl operating a tank was designed to showcase her military proficiency and address concerns about a female leader taking power.

North Korea’s state-run news agency, KCNA, recently distributed photos of the leader and his daughter with a tank, which followed previous images of her using firearms, Reuters noted.

The daughter, known as Ju Ae, is estimated to be around 13 years of age.

Park Sun-won, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, suggested that these scenes are intended to echo the military-themed public appearances Kim Jong Un made years ago when he was being prepared to take over from his father.

Hong Min, an analyst with the Korea Institute for National Unification, cautioned that the tank appearance is insufficient to confirm her as the successor, pointing out that she was accompanied by her father rather than appearing independently, as Kim Jong Un did during his own transition to power.

North Korea is recognized as one of the few nuclear-armed states in the world.