North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has selected his daughter as his heir, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday.

Little is known about Kim Ju Ae, who in recent months has been pictured beside her father at high-profile events, including her first known trip abroad to Beijing in September.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) took into account her increasingly prominent public presence at official events in making this assessment. The NIS also plans to monitor whether she will attend North Korea's upcoming party Congress, the most significant political event held every five years.

During the party Congress, Pyongyang is expected to elaborate on its priorities regarding foreign policy, military strategies, and nuclear ambitions for the next five years.

Recent statements from lawmakers suggest that Kim Ju Ae has now reached a stage of successor designation. As her presence was noted at significant state events, including military anniversaries and public policy discussions, observers are noting her growing role as a potential leader.

Ju Ae is the only confirmed child of Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju. The agency believes there is an unacknowledged older son, whose absence from North Korean media has contributed to the speculation surrounding Ju Ae's prominence.

The revelation of Ju Ae's existence came from an unexpected source: former basketball player Dennis Rodman, who mentioned holding the baby during a visit to North Korea in 2013.

Making her television debut in 2022 while inspecting intercontinental ballistic missiles alongside her father, Ju Ae has increasingly appeared in state media, softening her father's previously harsh image. Accompanying Kim Jong Un to significant events has spotlighted her as a figure of potential future leadership.

Despite entrenched traditional gender roles in North Korea, her father's sister, Kim Yo Jong, has already paved the way for female authority in the regime. As South Korea's NIS acknowledges Kim Ju Ae as the current heir, it raises questions about the implications of her succession and why a daughter has been selected over an older son.

As the youth of Kim Jong Un raises curiosity about designating a 13-year-old as his heir, questions linger about the changes her leadership might bring to North Korea, a country that has yet to fulfill its citizens' hopes for reforms and openness.