Kim Jong Un and Daughter Test Fire Pistols at Shooting Range

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has continued his efforts to modernize conventional forces, this time by personally inspecting a light munitions factory with his teenage daughter. State media reported that on Thursday, the pair fired pistols at a shooting range and gave them high praise. The visit underscores Kim’s growing interest in equipping military and security forces with state-of-the-art weaponry.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency shared photos of this inspection process online, including candid shots of Kim Jong Un’s daughter—believed to be named Kim Ju Ae at around 13 years old—alongside him. This outing came on the heels of recent public appearances where she had accompanied her father for a wide range of events, from military displays and factory openings to his first summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in six years.

Kim’s decision to introduce his daughter to such high-level military matters has sparked speculation among South Korean intelligence officials and experts. They suggest that Kim Jong Un might be grooming his daughter as the next generation’s leader, potentially leading into a fourth generation of the North Korean leadership. Lim Eul-chul, an expert on North Korea from Kyungnam University in South Korea, told AFP: “The regime is likely cultivating the image of a strong and formidable woman through this display. Her involvement in military-related events signals her preparation to assume military leadership attributes.”

This inspection marks the latest significant public engagement with modern weaponry. State media recently highlighted Kim’s daughter’s testing of a sniper rifle for his navy, where she observed top officials presenting nuclear-capable cruise missiles launched from a naval destroyer.

The latest visit to the pistol factory follows an earlier display where Kim and his daughter witnessed the test launch of nuclear-capable cruise missiles on a naval destroyer. The accompanying photos show Kim petting puppies with his daughter, sister Yo Jung, and wife Ri Sul Ju, while others feature them exploring a music shop filled with instruments.

These various public engagements suggest that Kim Jong Un is not only modernizing conventional forces but also projecting an image of strength and leadership for the future.