Kim Jong-un 'may have secret son' as likely heir to North Korea revealed

Kim Jong-un 'may have secret son' as likely heir to North Korea revealed South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it was still trying to establish whether Kim Jong-un has a secret older son as it revealed the likely heir of North Korea's leadership South Korea's spy agency is investigating whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has a secret older son who could have a role in the country's future leadership. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on Thursday it was still trying to establish whether Kim has an older son, while maintaining that his daughter is the likely heir. The comments appear to respond to a recent report claiming South Korean intelligence had determined Kim has no son with wife Ri Sol Ju. But the NIS said that even if an older son exists, he is not currently considered to be in the line to succeed his father. Kim's daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and aged around 13, remains the agency's likely successor to the North Korean leadership. The NIS also said Kim Jong-un also has a younger child whose gender has not been confirmed. The statement on Thursday didn't elaborate on the NIS assessment about Kim Ju Ae's solid political status, but it previously cited a comprehensive analysis of her public activities and state protocols provided to her. Since late 2022, Kim's daughter has accompanied him to numerous high-profile events including missile launches and big military parades. State media said she is her father's "most beloved" or "respected" child and churned out footage and photos proving their closeness and her rising political standing. The report of her name is based on an account by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who recalled holding Kim Jong-un's baby daughter during a 2013 trip to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. In 2023, a South Korean lawmaker said the NIS informed a legislative committee that Kim Ju Ae had an older brother. But the agency reportedly clarified 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 potential succession plans because of its deep-rooted system of patriarchy and male-dominated power. All of North Korea's leaders have been male members of the Kim family since the country's establishment in 1948. Kim Jong-un was preceded by his father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung. Some experts doubt whether elderly top North Korean officials would accept command by a female. They also note Kim Ju Ae's rise to power could eventually mean the end of her family's rule if she marries a man from a different family and hands power to their child. Other experts say Kim Jong-un, 42, is still too young to designate his heir, a move that could diminish his absolute power.