Does Kim Jong Un have a son? South Korea spy agency seeks answers

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service is seeking answers if North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has an older son or not that could take the nation’s leadership position.

At the same time, the Seoul spy agency reaffirmed its assessment that his daughter is likely heir to the nation’s leadership.

The Thursday statement by the spy agency appeared to address a recent media report claiming South Korean intelligence concluded that Kim and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, do not have a son.

The National Intelligence Service noted that even if a son does exist, he is not positioned to succeed Kim, who assumed power following his father's death in 2011.

Hence, the likely heir is going to be Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae who is around 13. However, the NIS claimed that efforts are underway to verify whether she has an elder brother or not.

The National Intelligence Service reported in 2023 that she has an older brother, though the agency noted it was still trying to verify reports regarding a son.

As per the agency’s report, Kim Jong Un has a younger child whose gender has yet not been confirmed.

The daughter has frequently accompanied her father to high-profile events like military parades and missile launches since late 2022, highlighting her rising political profile.

However, sceptics believe that male-dominated North Korean nation will not accept female leadership and some argue that Kim is still too young to designate an heir.