S. Korean Report Claims Kim Jong Un’s 13-Year-Old Daughter Appointed to Lead Nuclear Forces

South Korean daily The Chosun Ilbo has reported, citing intelligence sources, that Kim Jong Un has appointed his 13-year-old daughter, Kim Ju-ae, to a senior leadership role overseeing North Korea’s nuclear forces.

According to the report, intelligence agencies received information suggesting that Kim Ju-ae has been named “director general of missile systems,” a position allegedly tied to supervision of strategic weapons.

The newspaper further claimed that the young daughter of the North Korean leader has been playing an increasingly visible role in political and military affairs, and has reportedly begun issuing directives related to the country’s strategic weapons programs.

In recent years, Kim Ju-ae has frequently accompanied her father to missile launches and military inspections, appearances widely seen as symbolic of her rising profile within the regime. 

The report alleges that she now receives briefings from senior generals and participates in decision-making processes.

These claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no official confirmation from North Korean state media or authorities.

The report coincides with a major political event in North Korea. A plenary session of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea began in Pyongyang on February 19 and remains ongoing.

The meeting is focused on reviewing progress since the 2021 party congress and setting new five-year national goals.

If confirmed, the reported appointment would mark an unprecedented move in the leadership structure of the nuclear-armed state. 

However, analysts caution that information emerging from North Korea, particularly regarding internal power dynamics, often remains difficult to independently substantiate.