North Korea leader Kim Jong Un's 10-year-old daughter is the likely heir to the political dynasty, says spy agency

• Kim Jong Un's young daughter could be North Korea's next supreme leader, per South Korea's spy agency.
• 10-year-old Kim Ju-ae is potentially being groomed to succeed, appearing in public at state events.
• Kim Ju-ae has been hailed as Kim Jong Un's "most beloved" child, by state media.

Kim Ju-ae has emerged as a likely heir to the North Korean supreme leadership , says South Korea's spy agency.

Her father, Kim Jong Un, has been the supreme leader of North Korea since his father died in 2011 .

South Korea's National Intelligence Service has suggested that Kim Ju-ae, 10, is being groomed for succession.

Since her first public appearance in November 2022, where she observed a long-range missile test launch alongside her father, international speculation has grown surrounding Kim Ju-ae's potential role in the leadership.

The National Intelligence Service based its assessment on a comprehensive analysis of her public activities and the protocols provided to her.

Kim Ju-ae's increasing visibility in major public events and being labeled by state media as Kim Jong Un's "most beloved" child, further fuels speculation.

She has attended military parades, visited Air Force headquarters, and was present at a New Year's Eve celebration where Kim Jong Un and his daughter kissed each other on the cheek.

Du Hyeogn Cha, an analyst from the Asian Institute for Policy Studies, expressed caution regarding Kim Ju-ae's potential leadership role, citing her lack of political achievements, per The Guardian.

Male members of the Kim family have historically ruled North Korea

Retired NBA star Dennis Rodman said he saw and held Kim Ju-ae during a trip to Pyongyang in 2013 .

The spy agency reportedly told lawmakers that Kim Ju-ae has an older brother, and a younger sibling whose gender is unknown, The Guardian reports.

South Korea's spy agency does not have concrete information about North Korea's power succession process, so the assessment is speculative.

Kim Jong Un is 39 and apparently in good health, but the agency considers all possibilities, emphasizing that the nation's succession plans remain elusive.

The Kim dynasty is a three-generation lineage ruling North Korea. They are descended from the country's founder and first leader, Kim Il Sung, who took charge when the current constitution was established in 1972 .

North Korea fired over 200 artillery rounds into the sea this week, prompting residents of South Korean islands to seek shelter.

While the ministry did not confirm the reason behind the evacuation order, tensions are escalating as both Koreas step back from a military confidence-building agreement.