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By Micah McCartney
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter Ju Ae is being trained to succeed the 40-year old**,** according to Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS) on Monday.
In a report to the South Korean legislature's intelligence committee on Monday, the spy agency said Ju Ae appears to be the favorite to take the place of her father, citing an uptick in public appearances with him, Yonhap News Agency cited two parliamentarians as saying.
Intelligence officials were also cited as saying they believe Kim is at high risk for heart disease, pointing out he is believed to weigh more than 300 pounds, has exhibited symptoms of diabetes and high blood pressure since his early 30s, and is reportedly seeking alternative medicine.
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The announcement follows over a year of speculation over the line of the hermit kingdom's line of succession.
Until recently, Kim's daughter, believed to be approximately 12 years old, has been shrouded in secrecy. She was introduced as an infant as "Ju Ae" to former NBA star Dennis Rodman during his visit with Kim, whom he considers a friend, in early 2013.
The NIS report comes after Ju Ae first entered the spotlight, joining her father at a missile launch. Since then, she has continued to appear alongside the leader at high-profile events.
In addition to Ju Ae's public appearances, the NIS reportedly said it's been observing the honorifics used to refer to Ju Ae as a sign of elevated status.
A greenhouse tour in Kangdong County, home to the Kims' summer retreat, in March marked the first time North Korean state-media referred to her as a "great person of guidance," along with the elder Kim. The appellation fueled speculation among analysts that Ju Ae was being groomed to follow in her father's footsteps.
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The spy agency said in March that Pyongyang was signaling she was a possible successor.
The NIS stressed it could not rule out someone else would take Kim Jong Un's place. He and his wife, first lady Ri Sol Ju, are believed to have two other children.
The supreme leader's sister Kim Yo Jong, 36, has also been touted as a possible successor given her influential role in the regime.
The North Korean embassy in China did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Newsweek.
If Ju Ae does succeed him, she will be the fourth in the Kim dynasty to rule the one-party state. Its founder first supreme leader, Kim Il Sung, was replaced in 1994 by son Kim Jong Il, who was in turn succeeded by Kim Jong Un in 2011.
Update 7/29/24, 8:11 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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