Overview

• Lawmakers briefed by the NIS said merely accompanying Kim Jong-un overseas, despite avoiding public events, was enough to reinforce her standing as the likely heir.
• She remained inside North Korea’s embassy in Beijing as officials took steps to curb biometric exposure, including using a special plane to transport waste.
• State media circulated curated footage and photographs to signal her role without broad public appearances, which the NIS said served the succession narrative.
• The NIS reported no major health abnormalities in Kim Jong-un and dismissed rumors of another heir, such as a son studying abroad or a child with a disability, as not credible.
• The agency said Kim views the visit as a diplomatic success and may adopt a more assertive posture, noting his inspections of ICBM facilities and an engine assessed to support multiple warheads and hypersonic capabilities.