South Korean intelligence officials have suggested that the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Kim Ju Ae, may have a younger sibling. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated that it currently believes Kim Ju Ae is being prepared as a potential heir and that she might have a younger brother or sister. This information comes after the NIS confirmed in 2022 that Kim Ju Ae exists and has been increasingly seen in public with her father. Previously, the agency had estimated that Kim Jong Un likely has three children, though the birth order was unclear. The Kim family has ruled North Korea since the country's founding in 1948. North Korean society is deeply influenced by a personality cult centered around the "Paektu Mountain Lineage," which traces the family's origins to a mythical mountain and reinforces their divine status. The NIS noted that it is still trying to determine whether Kim Ju Ae has an older brother, but believes that even if such a sibling exists, he is not in a position to be considered a successor. Since 2022, Kim Ju Ae has appeared publicly with Kim Jong Un at several major political events, including a high-profile visit to Beijing. North Korean state media have referred to her as the "beloved child" and the "great person called to guide" (hyangdo in Korean), a term typically reserved for the highest leaders and their designated successors. These references suggest that she is being groomed for a prominent role in the future. The process of succession in North Korea remains highly secretive. Kim Jong Un took power in 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, continuing a dynasty that began with his grandfather, Kim Il Sung. The country's leadership transition is closely guarded, with little public information about the inner workings of the ruling family or the selection of future leaders.