Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter, previously known as Kim Ju Ae, has reportedly undergone a name change to Kim Ju Hae and been given a significant role within North Korea’s military, according to South Korean intelligence reports.
Believed to be around 13 years old, Ju Hae was previously identified as her father’s heir, as confirmed by a South Korean spy agency on Feb. 12. A follow-up intelligence report on Feb. 22 revealed the name change, a step that mirrors her father’s own path to leadership.
Ju Hae has now been appointed “missile general director,” a position in which she reportedly receives reports from generals and issues directives, South Korean authorities said. Her father is believed to have assigned this role to give her early exposure to military control. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) also reported instances where she has provided opinions on certain policies, signalling a stage of preparation as designated successor.
As the only publicly acknowledged child of Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju, Ju Hae has appeared more frequently alongside her father in recent years. While intelligence sources suggest the couple may have an older son, he has not been revealed by North Korean state media.
Ju Hae’s existence was officially acknowledged by state media in November 2022, when she accompanied Kim Jong Un at a ballistic missile launch, described as a “beloved child.” Her previous name, Ju Ae, meaning “main love,” was first revealed by former NBA player Dennis Rodman during a 2013 visit to North Korea and reflected her father’s hope that she would be cherished by many.
