North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter recently visited a light munitions factory to test newly produced weapons. During the inspection, the leader and his teenage daughter fired pistols alongside senior military officials. The factory visit highlights a broader push to modernize North Korea’s conventional forces after years of focusing primarily on nuclear weapons.
The public outings of Kim Jong Un and his daughter continue to capture international attention. State media photos recently revealed her presence at the shooting range, though official text reports from the Korean Central News Agency did not explicitly mention her participation. Believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and approximately 13 years old, she has accompanied her father to numerous events since her first public appearance at a long-range missile test in November 2022. These outings include military parades, factory openings, and a diplomatic visit to Beijing last September. During that trip, the North Korean leader held his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in over half a decade.
According to South Korean intelligence officials and experts, the regime is likely grooming the teenager as a future leader to extend the family dynasty into a fourth generation. Last month, state media also showed the girl testing a sniper rifle as her father presented weapons to senior officials following a ruling party congress.
Munitions Factory Inspection and Weapon Testing
During the munitions factory visit, Kim Jong Un reviewed a new pistol that recently entered production. After testing the firearm at a shooting range, he rated its performance as “excellent.” He emphasized that the manufacturing facility is crucial for supplying pistols and light arms to the military. To meet these continuous needs, he urged expanded capacity and modern production lines.
Strategic Cruise Missile Launches from Destroyer
In addition to the factory visit, Kim Jong Un and his daughter observed the test firing of strategic, nuclear-capable cruise missiles from the Choe Hyon, a naval destroyer. There is a slight disagreement among sources regarding the exact timing; according to The Dong-A Ilbo, the test-firing occurred on a Monday, whereas the Daily Excelsior and India Today state that Kim watched the launches on a Tuesday.
The leader and his daughter observed the tests via a video link in a conference room. State media reported that the missile flew for about two hours and 48 minutes before striking a target on an island in the Yellow Sea. The Choe Hyon, launched last April, is described as North Korea’s first 5,000-ton-class destroyer. The North Korean leader had observed another missile test from the same ship in person just days earlier, though his daughter was not seen at that appearance.
Kim Jong Un stated the launches demonstrate the navy’s strategic offensive posture. He underscored the necessity of maintaining a powerful nuclear war deterrent, declaring that the country’s nuclear armed forces have moved into a new phase of varied and multifaceted deployment. Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, suggested this signals a shift from relying heavily on land-based ballistic missiles to a multilayered operational structure encompassing land, sea, and underwater platforms.
Response to US-South Korean Military Drills
The recent weapons tests coincide with the springtime US-South Korean joint military drills, known as Freedom Shield. Sources present differing start dates for the 11-day exercise; the Daily Excelsior states it began on a Monday, while The Dong-A Ilbo reports it started on March 9. The exercise primarily features computer-simulated command post operations combined with outdoor field training.
North Korea routinely views these joint drills as an invasion rehearsal. In response, Kim Yo Jong, a senior official and the sister of Kim Jong Un, warned that the drills reveal the “inveterate repugnancy” of the United States and South Korea toward her country. She further cautioned that North Korea would act to “convince the enemies of our war deterrence.”
Foreign Policy Statements Regarding Iran
Separately, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry commented on Iran’s reported decision to designate Mojtaba Khamenei as the successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, stating North Korea acknowledges the right of the Iranian public to select their own leadership. The statement also condemned alleged acts of aggression by the United States and Israel, accusing them of destabilizing the region’s peace and security through unauthorized military strikes against Iran.
