North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be strengthening his daughter’s position as his future successor, according to South Korean lawmakers who cited a closed-door briefing from the National Intelligence Agency NIS.

Lawmakers said there are signs that Kim Ju Ae, believed to be in her early teens, is not only appearing more frequently in public but may also be giving input on policy matters. The NIS reportedly described her as being in the stage of being an internally appointed successor.

In the past, the agency had said she was “in study as successor,” but the latest wording suggests her status has become more serious and formal. Lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun shared this update with reporters after the briefing.

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The NIS will closely watch whether Kim Ju Ae attends the upcoming meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party and how she is presented. Observers are also looking for signs, such as whether she is given an official title.

State media in North Korea has increasingly shown her alongside her father during important events. She has appeared at weapons inspections and military-related visits, raising speculation that she is being prepared as the country’s fourth-generation leader.

Lawmakers Lee Seong-kweun and Park Sun-won said the spy agency believes her growing public role indicates she is already being treated as the de facto second-highest leader in the country.

North Korea is expected to hold the ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party in late February. Analysts believe the meeting will outline major policies on the economy, foreign affairs, and defence for the coming years.

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During the briefing, lawmakers also revealed that Kim Jong Un is overseeing the development of a large submarine. The vessel, with a displacement of 8,700 tons, may be capable of carrying up to 10 submarine-launched ballistic missiles SLBM and could be nuclear powered.

However, it remains unclear whether the submarine will be fully operational or powered by a nuclear reactor, as speculated. The developments suggest significant changes may be underway in North Korea’s political and military structure.