Kim Jong-un’s Daughter: Tank Driving & Power Display

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been shown driving a tank during army training supervised by her father, the latest joint public appearance fueling speculation she is being groomed as his heir.

Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Participates in Military Drill

The official Korean Central News Agency reported Friday that Kim oversaw an offensive tactical drill involving tank units and infantry troops a day earlier and called for completing war preparations.

Video and images released by state media showed Kim’s daughter sticking her head out of the driver’s hatch of a moving, olive green tank while her smiling father sat on top with three soldiers. Observers noted she appeared to be driving the armored vehicle, marking her first such activity.

Experts caution that while the girl’s position indicated she was driving, modern tanks are not technically complicated to pilot, especially when moving slowly on flat ground. “She only drove straight at a low speed. It’s also easy to drive modern tanks, and I think it was easier for her to drive as she was on a flat ground,” said Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea.

The girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and aged about 13, has accompanied her father to a number of high-profile military and other events since late 2022. North Korean state media has described her as Kim Jong Un’s “most beloved” or “respected” child, publishing footage and photos highlighting their closeness.

Recent appearances have included firing pistols during a visit to a light munitions factory, watching a live-fire test of multiple rocket launch systems, and a trip to Beijing with her father. She also 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 designating her as his heir, though some experts disagree, citing Kim Jong Un’s relatively young age and the male-dominated nature of North Korea’s power structure.

The North Korean training occurred as the U.S. and South Korea concluded an 11-day computer-simulated command post exercise, which North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. Field training continues as part of the annual military exercises.