Kim Jong Un and Teenage Daughter Take Tank Ride During Military Drills

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and his 13-year-old daughter were photographed riding together in a military tank during army training exercises Thursday. The public appearance follows recent outings where the pair fired weapons and watched rocket tests, fueling speculation about succession planning.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un made another public appearance with his teenage daughter Thursday, this time taking a ride together in a military tank during army training exercises, according to state media photographs released Friday.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim supervised tank unit drills and infantry exercises on Thursday, demanding that military forces finalize their combat readiness preparations.

State media images depicted Kim and his daughter wearing matching black leather jackets while riding in an olive-colored tank alongside other military personnel during Thursday’s training session. The photographs captured the young girl poking her head through the tank’s opening while Kim sat atop the vehicle with a smile.

The daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and approximately 13 years old, has been making regular appearances at significant military and state functions alongside her father since the end of 2022, leading international observers to wonder if she’s being positioned as his successor. North Korean official media has described her as Kim Jong Un’s “most beloved” or “respected” daughter and has released numerous images and videos highlighting their bond.

During the previous week, the father-daughter duo discharged handguns while touring a weapons manufacturing facility and observed live testing of multiple rocket launcher systems. In September, she traveled with her father to Beijing, and during New Year’s festivities, she was photographed kissing her father’s cheek.

South Korea’s intelligence services concluded last month that Kim Jong Un appears ready to name her as his successor. However, some analysts question this evaluation, pointing to Kim Jong Un’s relatively young age and North Korea’s heavily patriarchal leadership structure.

The North Korean military training occurred while the United States and South Korea conducted their yearly joint military drills, which North Korea considers practice for an invasion. The allied nations concluded their 11-day computerized command center exercise on Thursday, though field training operations continue.