(2nd LD) N. Korea appears to be accelerating succession efforts for Kim's daughter: spy agency

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R, front), alongside his daughter Ju-ae (C), rides on a battle tank as he oversees a coordinated offensive tactical drill of infantrymen's and tankmen's subunits at the Pyongyang Training Base No. 60 under the Capital City Defense Corps of the Korean People's Army on March 19, 2026, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ Lee Jong-seok, the head of the National Intelligence Service, attends a parliamentary intelligence committee session at the National Assembly in western Seoul on April 6, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) spy agency-N Korea

(2nd LD) N. Korea appears to be accelerating succession efforts for Kim's daughter: spy agency

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 7-11; ADDS photo)

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, April 6 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to be accelerating efforts to cast leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae as his successor, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers Monday, citing her recent public appearance that showed her driving a new battle tank with her father.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment during a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, according to Reps. Park Sun-won of the Democratic Party and Lee Seong-kweun of the People Power Party.

"Ju-ae has recently made appearances in defense-related sectors," the lawmakers quoted the NIS as saying. "This is assessed to be aimed at diluting skepticism around a female successor and accelerating efforts to build a succession narrative."

Last month, the North's state media reported that Kim oversaw a drill featuring new battle tanks, releasing photos of his daughter, believed to be in her teens, driving one carrying her father and military personnel.

The NIS said the report appears to be aimed at emphasizing Ju-ae's military capabilities and an homage to Kim who was also seen driving a tank in state media footage before he succeeded his father and former leader Kim Jong-il.

Ju-ae has been widely seen as a potential successor as she has increasingly appeared alongside her father at major domestic events. North Korea has been ruled by men of the Kim family over three generations for about eight decades.

Regarding North Korea's recent test of a new missile engine made with carbon fiber material, the NIS noted the possibility that it could be aimed at achieving a lighter missile body and developing multiple-warhead capabilities.

Kim oversaw the test of the upgraded engine with a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons as part of a five-year national defense development plan, state media reported late last month.

The NIS also said that, during the ongoing war, North Korea has yet to send weapons or supplies to Iran, with which Pyongyang has traditionally maintained close ties, according to the lawmakers.

It noted that Pyongyang did not send a message of condolences to Tehran when Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed or send a congratulatory message when his second son was elected as supreme leader.

The NIS speculated that the North appears to be making preparations to secure room for diplomacy after U.S. President Donald Trump's planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.

The spy agency also separately assessed that the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran could wind down in late April based on the results of possible U.S. strikes in the next three to four days.

Trump on Sunday renewed his threats to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if the Islamic Republic does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

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