N. Korean dictator and teenage daughter fire pistols at shooting range
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter were pictured handling pistols during a visit to a light munitions factory, according to state media reports released Thursday. The visit highlights Kim’s ongoing efforts to strengthen conventional military capabilities alongside the country’s longstanding focus on nuclear weapons.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim toured the facility a day earlier, examining a newly produced pistol among other small arms. He tested the weapon at a shooting range and deemed it “excellent.” While the report did not mention his daughter, photos published by KCNA showed her firing a pistol alongside senior military officials.
Kim emphasized the importance of the factory in supplying pistols and other light weapons to North Korea’s armed forces and security units. He called for increased production capacity and the introduction of more modern manufacturing lines.
Kim’s daughter, believed to be about 13 years old and named Kim Ju Ae, first appeared publicly during a long-range missile test in November 2022. Since then, she has been present at a growing number of official events, including military displays, factory inspections, and a September trip to Beijing, where Kim held his first summit in six years with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Her frequent appearances have led South Korean analysts and intelligence officials to suggest that Kim may be preparing her for a future leadership role, continuing the family dynasty into a fourth generation. Last month, state media released images of her testing a sniper rifle as Kim presented weapons to senior officials following a ruling party congress outlining political and military priorities for the next five years.
The pistol factory visit came shortly after an inspection on Tuesday, during which Kim and his daughter observed the test launch of nuclear-capable cruise missiles from a naval destroyer. During that event, Kim called for accelerating the nuclear armament of North Korea’s navy.
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