Why is Kim naming an heir at 42? Inside Pyongyang’s brewing family power struggle

Kim Jong-Un’s teenage daughter Kim Ju-Ae is reportedly being groomed as North Korea’s future leader, but new warnings suggest her rise could trigger a brutal succession battle inside the Kim dynasty. South Korean intelligence believes Ju-Ae is positioned as heir, yet analysts say Kim Yo-Jong — the dictator’s powerful sister — could emerge as the biggest rival. With North Korea’s history of assassinations, purges, and ruthless internal power struggles, fears are growing that a family showdown could destabilize the regime if Kim’s health falters or a sudden transition occurs.