National Intelligence Service

South Korea's spy agency has said it's still trying to find out if North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has a son.

On Thursday, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it's still not clear if the apparent heir to Kim's leadership, his daughter Kim Joo-ae, has an elder brother.

But the agency said that under the current circumstances, he cannot be his father's heir even if he exists.

Kim's daughter Kim Joo-ae is believed to be around 13, and appears to be in line to take over North Korea's leadership.

South Korea's spy agency has said it's still trying to find out if North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has a son.

On Thursday, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it's still not clear if the apparent heir to Kim's leadership, his daughter Kim Joo-ae, has an elder brother.

But the agency said that under the current circumstances, he cannot be his father's heir even if he exists.

Kim's daughter Kim Joo-ae is believed to be around 13, and appears to be in line to take over North Korea's leadership.

That's all they could do to get closure here.

What about the National Intelligence Service as it's known today? Did they ever come clean on this? On August

21st, 2003, the NIS did issue an official public apology for the incident.

But as we mentioned earlier, none of the related government agencies were punished because there was no way to legally punish them at the point.

It raises the prospect of a fourth generation of family rule in North Korea.

Now back in April, South Korea's National Intelligence Service director said the assessment was based on intelligence rather than merely visible signs.

So North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family since Kim Il-sung established the regime in 1948.

His son Kim Jong-il succeeded him after his death in 1994, and Kim Jong-un took power after his father died in 2011.

Now the National Intelligence Service in February also cited appearances by Kim Jong-un's daughter at major military and political events and signs that she had expressed views on some state policies.

In April, the agency assessed that his daughter's appearances in defense-related settings were intended in part to reduce resistance to a female successor, as well as accelerate efforts to build a succession narrative.

Veteran China analyst and Epoch Times columnist Hung Ho said North Korea's hereditary arrangement does not make succession automatic or free of internal challenge.

Ah, right, NIS.

National Intelligence Service.

Right.

So you, you must through that process, that just to figured it out, you're a real North Korean refugee or spy or, or maybe, uh, not real North Korean.

Um, but as far as the refugees who escaped 'cause they were hungry and all that, I mean, they just, they didn't care about them when they were in North Korea, and they don't care about them now either.

Um, but if, if I had to do a hierarchy, the ones at the top are the former diplomats, former ambassadors, former representatives of the regime.

Then second are those who are headed in North Korea's direction, sending air balloons, um, sending information, working with the CIA and with the, with the National Intelligence Service.

So they're like second on the target list.

But if I had to do a hierarchy, the ones at the top are the former diplomats, former ambassadors, former representatives of the regime.

Then second are those who are headed in North Korea's direction, sending air balloons, sending information, working with the CIA and with the National Intelligence Service.

So they're like second on the target list.

And then third are the ones, maybe our speakers, just kind of like irritating, you know, but they won't necessarily go after them, but more likely target their families.

But if I had to do a hierarchy, the ones at the top are the former diplomats, former ambassadors, former representatives of the regime.

Then second are those who are headed in North Korea's direction, sending air balloons, sending information, working with the CIA and with the National Intelligence Service.

So they're like second on the target list.

And then third are the ones, maybe our speakers, just kind of like irritating, you know, but they won't necessarily go after them, but more likely target their families.

But if I had to do a hierarchy, the ones at the top are the former diplomats, former ambassadors, former representatives of the regime.

Then second are those who are headed in North Korea's direction, sending air balloons, sending information, working with the CIA and with the National Intelligence Service.

So they're like second on the target list.

And then third are the ones, maybe our speakers, just kind of like irritating, you know, but they won't necessarily go after them, but more likely target their families.