The National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly that it assesses Kim Ju-ae, daughter of Kim Jong-un, chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, to be at the stage of being designated as successor. It also said that regarding the possibility of U.S.-North Korea talks, if conditions are met, there is a possibility North Korea will accept them.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported this at a closed full meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the 12th, lawmakers Park Seon-won of the Democratic Party of Korea and Lee Seong-gwon of the People Power Party, the ruling and opposition party whips, said.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said, "As Kim Ju-ae's presence continues to be highlighted at events such as the recent Army Day ceremony and the visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, and as indications have been detected that she is offering opinions on some policies, we assess that she has entered the current stage of being designated as successor," adding, "We plan to closely check whether Kim Ju-ae participates in the side events of North Korea's 9th Party Congress."
Lawmaker Lee Seong-gwon said, "There were lawmakers' questions about Kim Ju-ae's status, and compared with the conceptual definitions the National Intelligence Service used in previous Intelligence Committee briefings, today's explanation has advanced a bit," adding, "In the past, it was said that Kim Ju-ae was in 'successor training,' but notably today it was described as the 'stage of being designated as successor.'"
There was also mention of U.S.-North Korea dialogue at the full meeting that day, according to accounts. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said, "The possibility that North Korea will agree to talks with the United States always exists," adding, "North Korea expresses dissatisfaction to the United States each time over the U.S.-South Korea fact sheets and the deployment of U.S. strategic assets around the Korean Peninsula, but it is not denying talks with the United States themselves and is refraining from slandering President Donald Trump."
It added, "To avoid provoking President Trump, who is sensitive to intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches, it is not conducting test launches and is leaving itself room to maneuver," and "There is a possibility of seeking a point of contact between the United States and North Korea. If conditions are met, there is a chance North Korea will respond to talks."
However, on inter-Korean relations, it said North Korea is maintaining its "hostile two-state theory." The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said, "Relations with the South are keeping a distance," adding, "By not responding to us, it is drawing a line against any room for improving relations, and up to recently it has continued issuing 'shut off the South' directives to overseas missions and workers on South Korea-related projects, maintaining a firm two-state stance."