North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has assigned his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, a significant position within the country’s Rocket Command, which oversees its nuclear capabilities. According to South Korean intelligence, Kim Ju Ae is approximately 13 years old.
This development was reported by Newsweek, citing the South Korean newspaper Chosun Daily. A senior South Korean official stated on February 23 that Kim Ju Ae has been given a role comparable to that of the director of the Rocket Command, based on intelligence sources.
The appointment is seen as a step towards preparing her for a leadership role in the Korean People’s Army. Reports indicate that military generals are already providing her with briefings, and she has occasionally issued orders in place of Jang Chang Ha, who has officially led the Rocket Command since late 2023.
Previously, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service assessed that Kim Ju Ae is a likely successor to her father. The intelligence agency has indicated that it will closely monitor whether she takes on a prominent role at the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which began on February 20.
During this congress, held on February 23, Kim Jong Un was re-elected as the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a position he has held for 15 years. The congress is expected to outline the country’s agenda for the next five years.
Kim Ju Ae made her public debut in November 2022 during an intercontinental ballistic missile test. Since then, she has frequently accompanied her father at official events, including missile tests and military parades. In September 2025, she traveled to Beijing with her father, marking her first international visit.
Analysts caution that the succession situation in North Korea remains precarious and could shift due to internal power struggles, particularly involving Kim Jong Un’s influential sister, Kim Yo Jong.
Kim Jong Un has appointed his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, to a leadership role in North Korea's Rocket Command, signaling potential succession plans. Analysts warn that the political landscape remains unstable amid internal power dynamics.