NIS: "Kim Jong Un's Visit to China Seen as Significant Success... Kim Ju Ae Strengthens Succession Position"

Successful Debut on the Multilateral Diplomatic Stage, Breaking Away from Isolation
Kim Ju Ae Strengthens Successor Position Through Overseas Experience
Trilateral Alliance Appeared Symbolically, but No Substantial Progress

On September 11, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated, "Regarding North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un's visit to China, we assess that North Korea itself has given it a significant positive evaluation." The NIS also noted that this visit has helped Kim Jong Un's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, strengthen her favorable position in the succession structure.

The NIS reported these findings during a closed session of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee on the same day. According to a briefing by committee secretaries Park Sunwon of the Democratic Party of Korea and Lee Sungkwon of the People Power Party, "North Korea believes that Chairman Kim Jong Un made a successful debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage by attending China's 80th Victory Day celebrations. North Korea also sought to fully display the solidarity among North Korea, China, and Russia, and appears to have assessed that there were considerable achievements."

Yonhap News Agency

The NIS explained that by showing Chairman Kim interacting with other national leaders, North Korea was able to shed its image of isolation. The agency also viewed the visit as a move to strengthen not only North Korea-Russia relations but also North Korea-China ties. The NIS evaluated the visit as "an effort to focus on improving North Korea-China relations following the recent closeness with Russia, and to promote trilateral solidarity among North Korea, China, and Russia."

However, there was also an analysis that certain limitations became apparent. The NIS stated, "Although North Korea, China, and Russia presented the appearance of a trilateral alliance in terms of optics, in reality, there was no progress such as a three-way summit or the establishment of a policy consultation platform for future joint actions." The agency added, "There is also an assessment that there may have been differences in the North Korea-China and North Korea-Russia talks."

Regarding Chairman Kim's daughter, the NIS stated, "By allowing his daughter Kim Ju Ae to gain overseas experience, Chairman Kim has helped her solidify her position as a likely successor." The agency noted, "During the visit to China, Kim Ju Ae stayed at the embassy, refrained from going outside, and notably boarded the special train in advance for the return trip to avoid media exposure." However, there is analysis that this series of actions serves as groundwork for the succession structure. The NIS added, "The revolutionary narrative necessary for a likely successor has been sufficiently established," and explained, "We analyze that the purpose of Kim Ju Ae's visit to China was fundamentally part of the process of completing a narrative with hereditary succession in mind."