Kim Jong Un exhibited live multiple rocket launches to his adolescent daughter during South Korea’s military exercises, which North Korea interprets as a rehearsal for invasion. Kim Ju Ae, approximately 13 years old, joined her father to witness a strike drill involving 12 600mm-calibre, highly precise rocket launchers off North Korea’s eastern coast over the weekend. South Korea reported detecting around 10 ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area that flew towards the eastern sea.
The young girl, believed to be groomed as North Korea’s future leader, was observed walking near massive olive-green launch trucks and observing weapons being fired from them. Kim Ju Ae has been seen at various significant events alongside her father, such as missile trials and military parades since late 2022, fueling speculation about her potential succession. Earlier this year, she garnered attention when she attended a military parade in the North Korean capital and was present during her father’s menacing speech asserting the country’s capability to “completely destroy” its southern neighbor.
Observers have pointed out that the teenager’s increasing prominence, including being dressed similarly to her father, raises the likelihood of her succeeding him. Her elevated visibility has not escaped the notice of those monitoring North Korea’s complex political landscape. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim Jong Un as stating that the recent drill would unsettle potential adversaries within its 260-mile striking radius and provide them with a “deep understanding” of the destructive power of tactical nuclear weapons. He specifically mentioned South Korea and US troops stationed there.
KCNA reported Kim emphasizing that utilizing such weapons would render the opponent’s military infrastructure within its striking range untenable. Experts have highlighted that North Korea’s large rocket launchers blur the line between artillery systems and ballistic missiles due to their independent thrust and guided delivery capabilities. North Korea has asserted that some of these systems possess the capacity to carry nuclear warheads. The joint US-South Korean Freedom Shield training, a computer-simulated command post exercise, is scheduled to continue until March 19. North Korea frequently responds to such exercises with its own weapons trials and aggressive rhetoric.