JAKARTA - Kim Ju-ae, daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is reportedly being prepared to replace her father in leading the country, two members of the South Korean Parliament said, citing Monday's spy agency.

South Korea's National Intelligence Agency (NIS) in its report to parliamentary intelligence committees said North Korea had signaled Ju-ae as a strong candidate to replace his father by adjusting its frequency in public to measure public sentiment, lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun of the ruling People's Power Party and Park Sun-won of the Democratic Party's main opposition at a news conference, reported The Korea Times July 29.

NIS said it had determined Ju-ae was being prepared as leader Kim's successor, by studying the designation North Korea uses to refer to him, how often he appears in public and at any event, according to lawmakers.

NIS previously said about 60 percent of Ju-ae's public activities involved accompanying his father to military events with several other economic-related activities. However, North Korea's use of the word "hyangdo", which translates as a "trade," referring to him suggests he is on track to become the next leader.

The word "hyangdo" means illuminating the way forward in the revolutionary struggle and being used for their leaders or successors, Lee explained.

However, NIS said it was possible Leader Kim would choose someone else as his successor, given that his other children could advance and North Korea had not yet decided who would replace him.

NIS assesses that leader Kim appears to have health problems, with a weight of 140 kilograms, high risk of heart disease, possibly due to stress, smoking, and alcohol, NIS said.

"He is believed to have shown high blood pressure and diabetes since the early 30s," he said.

NIS also reported signs that Leader Kim was looking for alternative medicinal substances, leading to speculation that he may have had difficult conditions to deal with using drugs he currently consumes.


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