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Kim Jong Un’s 13-Year-Old Daughter Reportedly Given Leadership Role in North Korea’s Missile Bureau
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly given his daughter, widely believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, a leadership role within the country’s Missile Administration, the body overseeing Pyongyang’s nuclear forces, according to Newsweek on February 23, citing South Korean intelligence and a senior government official.
Kim was reelected on February 22 as secretary general of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, a post he has held for 15 years. The reported appointment of his daughter to a position akin to director within the missile bureau marks her most significant formal role to date and is seen as part of preparations for a potential succession.
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South Korea’s intelligence community has increasingly assessed Kim Ju Ae as the heir apparent. She has frequently accompanied her father to high-profile events, including missile test launches, fueling speculation that she could become the first female successor in the Kim dynasty, which has historically favored male heirs.
According to the Newsweek report, Kim Ju Ae is being briefed by senior generals and in some cases is already issuing orders, potentially superseding the current Missile Administration director, Jang Chang Ha.
Analysts say the succession picture remains fluid and could change depending on internal power dynamics, including the influence of Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong.
Earlier, it was reported that approximately 6,000 North Korean troops have been killed or wounded in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to the intelligence, around 10,000 North Korean combat troops and 1,000 engineering soldiers are currently deployed in Russia’s Kursk region to support Moscow’s war effort against Ukraine.
It was estimated that roughly 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured during the war. It was also noted that about 1,100 troops and engineers who returned to North Korea last December could be redeployed to the battlefield.
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