North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly chosen his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his official heir, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) told lawmakers on Thursday.

Ju Ae, believed to be 13, has recently appeared alongside her father at major events, including a visit to Beijing in September, her first known trip abroad. The NIS said her increasing public presence and involvement in state events indicate she is now in the stage of “successor designation.”

Lawmakers said Ju Ae has attended events like the founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army and visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. She is also believed to have begun providing input on some state policies, showing her growing role in leadership.

Ju Ae is Kim Jong Un’s only publicly acknowledged child. The NIS believes he may have an older son, but he has never been shown in state media. Ju Ae first appeared on North Korean television in 2022 while inspecting a missile system with her father.

Her public appearances are seen as symbolic, showing her positioned prominently alongside Kim Jong Un. Analysts note that her selection as heir is unusual in North Korea’s patriarchal society, though female leaders like Kim Yo Jong provide some precedent.

It remains unclear why Kim Jong Un, who is still young and reportedly healthy, has named a 13-year-old as heir, or what changes her succession may bring to the country’s policies and direction.

With inputs from BBC