North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has positioned his 13-year-old daughter as head of the country's missile bureau, allowing her to participate in military decision-making as part of succession planning, South Korean media reported.
According to The Chosun Ilbo, citing senior South Korean government sources, Kim Ju Ae now has authority to receive briefings from military officials and issue instructions regarding missile operations. While the missile bureau is nominally led by Jang Chang Ha, intelligence suggests the young Kim is already involved in command.
Kim Ju Ae may have also changed her name to Kim Ju Hye, similar to how her father's name was revealed only after he was formally designated successor in 2010. Previously known internationally as Kim Ju Ae, the name was first disclosed by former NBA star Dennis Rodman after his 2013 visit to Pyongyang.
Kim Jong Un has increasingly showcased his daughter at major missile and nuclear tests since November 2022, when she first appeared at the launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile. State media initially referred to her only as his "beloved daughter."
On Monday, North Korea's state news agency reported that the ruling Workers' Party congress unanimously re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary, praising his establishment of revolutionary armed forces and nuclear war deterrent capabilities.
Analysts view Kim Ju Ae's early involvement in the missile and nuclear program as a move to link succession planning with military authority, strengthening her future standing within both the party and armed forces.
