- The agency said Kim followed the launches through a video feed on Tuesday
- she has frequently appeared with her father at major public events, including military parades and weapons demonstrations
- Last month, South Korea’s intelligence authorities suggested Kim Jong Un might eventually present her as his successor
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched the launch of strategic cruise missiles from a naval destroyer alongside his teenage daughter, according to reports released Wednesday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
The missile test came as Pyongyang warned it could react to ongoing joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, Eko Hot Blog reports.
EDITOR’S PICK
- “Pay Her Transport Fare Too”, Pete Edochie Stirs Debate on Dating Expenses
- Epe Students Parliament Declares Executive Seats Vacant Over Inauguration Dispute
- Osimhen Warns Galatasaray Ahead of Liverpool Match
Images published by KCNA showed Kim and the young girl inside a control room observing a screen displaying missiles being fired from the warship Choe Hyon, which was commissioned roughly a year ago.
The agency said Kim followed the launches through a video feed on Tuesday. During the observation, he stressed the importance of maintaining what he described as a dependable and powerful nuclear deterrent. The official report did not directly identify the girl present with him.
However, she is widely believed to be Kim Ju Ae, who is estimated to be about 13 years old. Since late 2022, she has frequently appeared with her father at major public events, including military parades and weapons demonstrations.
Last month, South Korea’s intelligence authorities suggested Kim Jong Un might eventually present her as his successor.
KCNA reported that the missiles successfully struck designated island targets located off the country’s western coastline.
Kim reportedly said the exercise was meant to demonstrate the navy’s offensive combat readiness and to allow service members to practice operating strategic weapons.
Just a week earlier, Kim personally attended similar missile launches from the same destroyer, though his daughter did not appear at that event.
The latest test occurred shortly after the United States and South Korea began their annual joint military exercise known as Freedom Shield, which Pyongyang has long criticized as a rehearsal for invasion.
Also on Tuesday, Kim’s sister and senior government figure Kim Yo Jong denounced the drills, accusing Washington and Seoul of showing continued hostility toward North Korea. S
he warned that the country would make its military deterrence capabilities clear to its rivals.
The Freedom Shield exercise, which started Monday, is scheduled to last 11 days and mainly consists of computer-simulated command operations supported by field training.
North Korea has frequently responded to these exercises with its own weapons tests in the past.
FURTHER READING
