SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter drives a tank during military training overseen by her father, with their latest joint public appearance fueling speculation that the girl is being groomed to be Kim Jong Un’s heir.
The official Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday that Kim had overseen an offensive tactics drill involving tank units and infantry units a day earlier and called for the completion of war preparations.
Videos and pictures released by state media showed Kim Jong Un’s daughter sticking her head out of the cockpit of a moving olive green tank while her smiling father sat on the roof with three soldiers.
Observers said the girl’s position made it clear she was driving an armored vehicle, the first time she had performed such an activity. But they point out that modern tanks are not technically complex to drive, especially when moving slowly over short periods of time.
“She only drives in a straight line at low speeds. It’s also easy to drive a modern tank, and I think it’s easier for her to drive on flat ground,” said Lee Il-woo, a South Korean defense network expert.
According to reports, the girl’s name is Kim Ju Ae, who is about 13 years old. Since the end of 2022, she has accompanied her father in many high-profile military and other activities. North Korean state media has called her Kim Jong Un’s “most beloved” or “most respected” child and has released footage and photos showing the pair’s close relationship.
They recently conducted pistol firings during a visit to a light munitions factory and watched a live-fire test of a multiple-rocket launch system. In September, the girl went to Beijing with her father. She kissed him on the cheek during New Year’s Day celebrations.
South Korea’s spy agency assessed last month that Kim Jong Un was close to naming her as his heir. Some experts disagree with that assessment, citing Kim’s relative youth and the extremely male-dominated nature of North Korea’s power hierarchy.
North Korea’s training, meanwhile, comes as the United States and South Korea conduct annual military drills, which the North views as a rehearsal for an invasion. The United States and South Korea ended an 11-day computer-simulated command post exercise on Thursday but continued field training.