Kim Jong Un with his daughter at the shooting range, pistol in hand... 13-year-old Ju-ae fired a gun, what is the dictator preparing for

News Topical, Digital Desk : North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was recently seen testing new pistols at a shooting range. His teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, was also present. According to North Korea's state-run news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un described the weapons as excellent.

State media reports did not say whether his daughter accompanied him to the factory, but photos released showed Kim Ju-ae firing a pistol alongside senior officials.

Kim Ju-ae has been seen at public events with her father for several years, leading to speculation that the now-13-year-old could be a potential successor to Kim Jong Un.

Inspection of the arms factory

The photos were taken while Kim Jong Un was inspecting a factory producing light weapons and ammunition. According to reports, after years of focusing on nuclear weapons, he is now focusing on modernizing conventional military forces as well.

Kim Ju-ae first appeared in public in November 2022. Since then, she has accompanied her father to several public events, including factory openings and military demonstrations.

Last September, she also accompanied her father to the Chinese capital, Beijing, where Kim Jong Un held his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.

Also witnessed missile tests

According to reports, during their visit to the pistol factory, the father and daughter also witnessed a test launch. State media reported that it was of a nuclear-capable cruise missile launched from a naval warship. Last month, state media also published images showing Kim Ju-ae firing a sniper rifle. At the time, Kim Jong Un was demonstrating new weapons to senior officials.

South Korea's National Intelligence Agency believes that Kim Ju-ae is now gradually reaching the stage of being declared the successor and her opinions on some government policies have also started coming to the fore.

Kim Jong Un's family

Kim Ju-ae is believed to be the only child of Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, who has appeared in public. Although South Korea's National Intelligence Agency says Kim Jong-un may have an older son, he has never publicly mentioned him. North Korean state media also makes no mention of any son.

Ju-ae was first revealed in 2013, when American basketball player Dennis Rodman revealed in an interview that he had held baby Ju-ae in his arms during a visit to North Korea.

Read More: America will permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, the Ministry of External Affairs informed.