NIS Shifts Wording from "In Training" to "Designated"
Opinions Detected at Air Force Day Event and Memorial Visits
NIS: "Attacker of President Lee Confirmed to Have Visited Ko Seongguk TV"
On February 12, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) assessed that Kim Ju-ae, daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has entered the stage of being designated as a future leader. Attention is being drawn to the fact that the NIS used an expression that indicates one step further than its past description of her as being "in successor training."
The NIS held a full session of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on this day and briefed lawmakers on current issues. Park Sunwon, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea and secretary of the committee, and Lee Sungkwon, a lawmaker of the People Power Party, said in a briefing, "(The NIS) in the past used the expression that Kim Ju-ae was in successor training, but today, notably, it used the expression that she is in the stage of being designated as a successor." They added, "The NIS assessed that Kim Ju-ae has been increasingly standing out at events such as the recent Air Force Day ceremony and the visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, and that there are signs she is expressing some opinions. It said it views it as notable that it described her as being in the designation stage, taking into account that her presence is being highlighted at military-related events and at visits symbolizing hereditary succession, and that she is directly voicing opinions during on-site inspections."
Regarding North Korea-United States relations, the NIS said, "North Korea expresses discontent when strategic assets are deployed around the Korean Peninsula, but it does not deny dialogue itself," adding, "It has left room for maneuver, such as refraining from even test launches in order not to provoke U.S. President Donald Trump, who is sensitive to intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches."
On the participation of North Korean troops in the Russia-Ukraine war, the NIS said, "Currently, about 10,000 combat troops have been deployed to defend the Kursk border, and about 1,000 troops from construction engineering units have been投入 for reconstruction tasks," and added, "Despite casualties among 40% of the total deployed forces, the North Korean military is repeatedly improving the performance of its weapons systems by acquiring modern warfare tactics, collecting battlefield data, and receiving Russian technical support on the battlefield." In particular, it said, "There are signs that North Korea is accelerating efforts to establish a system for developing and mass-producing unmanned aerial vehicles by creating a specialized UAV department."
Regarding North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine, the NIS said, "Since respecting and following the will of the individuals is the principle under international law, we are making every effort to enable them to defect." However, it reported, "From a humanitarian perspective and other considerations, our position is that if the two of them designate South Korea as the place where they wish to live, it would be something we would welcome, but as an intelligence agency, the NIS does not conduct operations to induce this."
Lawmaker Park also said that, in relation to Kim Jinseong, who carried out a terror attack on President Lee Jaemyung in Busan's Gadeokdo in the past, the NIS "responded that it seems certain Kim Jinseong was influenced by (YouTuber) Ko Seongguk." He added, "Regarding whether there were phone calls between Ko Seongguk and the terrorist, which has been talked about in some circles, (the NIS) said it understands that such calls did take place, and it also said that it has partially confirmed the fact that the terrorist actually visited Ko Seongguk TV in person."
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