North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un brought his teenage daughter along for a weapons factory tour where both fired newly-manufactured pistols, according to state media reports released Thursday from Seoul, South Korea.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim inspected a facility producing handguns and small arms weapons on Wednesday, where he examined a recently-developed pistol model that has entered manufacturing.
Following his test firing session at the facility’s shooting range, Kim declared the new weapon “excellent,” according to the state news agency. While the official text report didn’t reference his daughter’s participation, accompanying photographs depicted her shooting a pistol alongside high-ranking military personnel.
Kim emphasized the manufacturing plant’s vital role in providing handguns and small arms to military and security personnel, calling for increased production capacity and updated manufacturing equipment, KCNA reported.
The young woman, identified as approximately 13-year-old Kim Ju Ae, made her initial public debut during a long-range missile demonstration in November 2022. Since then, she has joined her father at numerous public events, including military exhibitions, factory visits, and a September journey to Beijing for Kim Jong Un’s first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.
Her growing visibility in public settings has led South Korean intelligence analysts and regional experts to conclude that Kim Jong Un is preparing her for eventual leadership to continue the family’s control into a fourth generation.
State media recently showed the teenager handling a sniper rifle when Kim distributed weapons to high-ranking officials after a ruling party assembly where he outlined his primary political and military objectives for the coming five years.
This weapons facility visit occurred after Tuesday’s inspection where Kim and his daughter observed the test firing of what state media characterized as nuclear-capable cruise missiles launched from a naval vessel, as Kim emphasized accelerating his navy’s nuclear capabilities.
