North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has appointed his 13-year-old daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as the head of the country's missile program, according to South Korean newspaper The Chosun Daily citing government sources.

The publication reports that Kim Ju Ae is effectively performing the duties of the missile unit chief, despite the formal position being held by Jang Chang Ha. Sources state she receives reports from military officials, issues orders, and participated in political discussions at the ninth congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang.

The existence of the North Korean leader's daughter was officially revealed in November 2022 when she accompanied her father during the launch of the "Hwasong-17" intercontinental ballistic missile. Her name was not publicly disclosed at that time.

Previously, Reuters reported, citing South Korea's National Intelligence Service, that Kim Jong Un is considering his daughter as a potential successor and has already taken steps to strengthen her political standing. According to South Korean parliamentarians, intelligence phrasing has shifted from "considering the candidacy" to indicating a stage of actual successor appointment.

Source: kun.uz