South Korea’s National Intelligence Service believes that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could have a secret son.
The spy agency said in a statement on Thursday that even if a son exists, he is not in a position to become the successor to Kim, who took over from North Korea‘s government after his father’s death in 2011.
NOS confirmed its earlier assessment that Kim’s daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and about 13 years old, is likely in line to take over the leadership of North Korea from her father.
NOS says it still wants to verify whether Kim’s daughter has an older brother, but under current circumstances he cannot be his father’s heir, even if he does exist.
The agency said Kim Jong Un also has a younger child gender has not been confirmed.
Thursday’s statement did not elaborate on NOS’s assessment of Kim Ju Ae’s solid political status.
But it previously cited an extensive analysis of her public activities and the state protocols provided to her.
The statement was likely in response to a recent media report that South Korean intelligence services have determined that Kim does not have a son with his wife Ri Sol Ju.
Kim Jong-un (photo) could have a secret son, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service believes. He is pictured here with his daughter Kim Ju Ae, who is his likely heir
File image: Kim Jong Un speaks during the celebration of the 78th anniversary of the country’s founding in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 9, 2026
Since late 2022, Kim’s daughter has accompanied him to numerous high-profile events, including rocket launches and major military parades.
State media said she is her father’s “most loved” or “respected” child and published images and photos proving their closeness and her rising political status.
The mention of her name is based on an account by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who recalled holding Kim Jong Un’s infant daughter during a 2013 trip to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital.
In 2023, a South Korean lawmaker said that NIS had informed a legislative committee that Kim Ju Ae had an older brother.
But the agency reportedly made clear it was still trying to verify reports that the North Korean leader had a son.
Whether she has an older brother is a key issue in outside discussions about North Korea’s possible succession plans due to its entrenched system of patriarchy and male-dominated power.
Since its founding in 1948, all three leaders of North Korea have been male members of the Kim family. Kim Jong Un was preceded in death by his father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung.
Some experts doubt whether senior North Korean officials would accept a woman’s command.
They also note that Kim Ju Ae’s rise to power could ultimately mean the end of her family’s rule if she marries a man from another family and hands power to their child.
Other experts say 42-year-old Kim Jong Un is still too young to name his heir, a move that could erode his absolute power.
