NIS Confirms Kim Jong-un's First Child Is a Son... Kim Ju-ae Is Homeschooled

NIS Reports to National Assembly Intelligence Committee on North Korea Trends
"Kim Juae Enjoys Hobbies Such as Horseback Riding, Swimming, and Skiing"

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated that it is confirming that Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of North Korea, has a son as his first child. It also explained that Kim Ju-ae, the daughter who has recently appeared frequently alongside Kim Jong-un at official events including military facility inspections, is being homeschooled in Pyongyang.

On the afternoon of the 7th, the NIS reported on North Korean developments during a briefing to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee. According to Rep. Yoo Sang-beom, who serves as the whip for the People Power Party on the Intelligence Committee, the NIS expressed the position that "although there is no concrete physical evidence, intelligence gathered through sharing information with external intelligence agencies confirms that (Kim Jong-un's first child) is definitely a son."

Kim Kyu-hyun, Director of the National Intelligence Service
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Rep. Yoo stated, "The NIS said that the son has never been exposed to the public, and there is no intelligence confirming the mental or physical issues that some have speculated about," adding, "They confirmed the birth of a third child but have not identified the gender."

The NIS also assessed that the recent public appearances of Kim Ju-ae accompanying Kim Jong-un are intended to emphasize the four-generation hereditary succession. Rep. Yoo explained, "(The NIS) believes that since Kim Jong-un is still young and does not need to plan for succession early, and there is no propaganda trend, the most likely purpose is to imprint the four-generation hereditary succession."

Furthermore, the NIS reported to the Intelligence Committee that Kim Ju-ae is not attending formal educational institutions but is being homeschooled in Pyongyang, and that she enjoys hobbies such as horseback riding, swimming, and skiing. Rep. Yoo explained, "There is information that Kim Ju-ae is particularly skilled at horseback riding, which pleases Kim Jong-un."

Regarding some media reports claiming that Kim Ju-ae has changed her name, the NIS dismissed them, stating that "there has been no detection of such."

Meanwhile, concerning recent reports of starvation deaths occurring across various parts of North Korea, the NIS judged that while the number of starvation deaths is not enough to threaten the North Korean regime, it is difficult to accurately estimate the scale. Causes of starvation deaths were cited as North Korea’s grain policy focused on control, problems arising during distribution, and the impact of COVID-19, as pointed out by the Ministry of Unification. It was also reported that North Korea is short of 800,000 tons of rice annually.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.