▲ National Intelligence Service chief Lee Jong-seok (C) attends a plenary session of the intelligence committee at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 12, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

spy agency-N Korea

N. Korea in process of designating leader's daughter Ju-ae as successor: NIS

SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to have entered the stage of designating leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae as the successor, the spy agency told lawmakers Thursday.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared the assessment during a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, Reps. Park Sun-won and Lee Seong-kweun told reporters.

"As Kim Ju-ae has shown her presence at various events, including the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army and her visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, and signs have been detected of her voicing her opinion on certain state policies, the NIS believes she has now entered the stage of being designated as successor," Lee said.

The spy agency also said it will keep close tabs on whether she attends the North's key party congress set for late this month.

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