SEOUL: North Korea released an image on Thursday of leader Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter firing a pistol, weeks after photos showed her shooting a rifle. The images, released by state media, show Kim Ju Ae at a shooting gallery at a munitions factory.
She accompanied her father to inspect the production of new handguns and other portable light arms. The duo were seen wearing matching leather jackets, a symbol of power in North Korea.
The state media report highlighted Kim Jong Un testing the "new-type" pistol and expressing satisfaction with its performance. Experts suggest these public appearances are designed to cultivate an image of a strong leader for the young Ju Ae.
Kim Ju Ae was first publicly introduced in 2022, accompanying her father to an intercontinental ballistic missile launch. Her prominent role in state media events has fueled widespread speculation that she is being groomed as the successor to the Kim dynasty.