this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2026
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has selected his daughter as his heir, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday.

Kim Ju Ae - who is believed to be 13 - has in recent months been pictured beside her father in high-profile events like a visit to Beijing in September, her first known trip abroad.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it took a "range of circumstances" into account including her increasingly prominent public presence at official events" in making this assessment.

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[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 40 points 1 day ago (6 children)

He looks like shit for being in his early 40s. I wonder if there is something going on with his health and that’s why he is appointing a 13 year old heir. The article doesn’t elaborate on that but it says he “appears young and healthy.” He looks like he is about to pop. I don’t think I’d describe him as young or healthy looking.

[–] green_red_black@slrpnk.net 28 points 1 day ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (2 children)

Kim isn’t in the best of shape but he isn’t at Donald Trump levels of poor health.

As for naming his daughter the heir to the throne it could be she is the only legitimate child he has.

In terms of male relatives the only one of the Kim family that is not as old or older than him (and not dead) is Kim Han Sol, and if anyone is paying attention it’s obvious why he isn’t getting the throne.

[–] regedit@lemmy.zip 5 points 12 hours ago (1 children)
[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

He’s almost 40 years younger than Trump, so I don’t think it’s comparable. I’m the same age as Kim and I know no one who is in as bad as shape as him (maybe one or two co-workers who are morbidly obese). There is nothing healthy about being 5’3” and 275 lbs.

[–] green_red_black@slrpnk.net 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Yes but it’s not “dude is going to croak any day now.”

Even more so as his status and position gives him access to the best medical care

[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I don’t know. Heart attacks are a real thing. Your 40s get weird with health stuff. I agree that I don’t think he is going to croak any day now, but it does seem like they are preparing for him to be gone. His father only lived to 60.

[–] green_red_black@slrpnk.net 4 points 1 day ago

I don’t dispute in having a successor prepared for when the time comes. It’s just that for a monarchy it’s good policy to have an heir ready in the wings, otherwise you get a lovely power struggle.

In this case it would be between factions of the ruling elite that are die hard cultists and factions that didn’t drink the kool-aid and just want to stay in power.

Normally a population opposition would also be in the mix but unlike Venezuela and Iran NK seems to have taken care of that

[–] RalfWausE@feddit.org 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Look what Obama looked like when he entered office and how he looked when he left. And i bet being at the top of North Korea, surrounded by people who whould absolutely love to acquire your position by all means would be.... well... a bit more stressful.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

surrounded by people who whould absolutely love to acquire your position by all means

You think the third generational decedent of a national hero is going to be toppled by his most fiercely loyal family friends?

If the Kim family could have been pushed out by coup within the military, the CIA would have financed that shit 40 years ago.

[–] supernight52@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago

Why would they? There's more power in having south Korea be an operating center in Asia, than overthrowing North Korea and allowing for possible reunification. Idk, seems like it would go against most of the CIAs goals that they usually have.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I remember just about every Kim not being very healthy. The jokes wrote themselves with Kim Jong-il.

[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yep. And he died at 60. Younger Kim is on the same track.

[–] Honytawk@feddit.nl 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Does he also have a giant tumor like his dad did?

[–] Notyou@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 day ago

I read a news article about that mentioned he was thrusted into power in his 20s so maybe he wanted to start introducing her to the system early.

[–] morto@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago

I thouhgt he was in his early 40s like 10 years ago. Whoa!