The latest state media photographs to emerge from North Korea are those of leader Kim Jong Un alongside his daughter, identified as likely Kim Ju Ae, as the two watched a military exercise that showcased the nation’s latest battle tank.
The military training exercise at a site outside Pyongyang, included units of armored troops and ground forces. The new tank, reported by state outlet KCNA to have “all-weather, high-position offensive and defensive capabilities, particularly against enemy drones and antitank weapons”, was featured.
Images released showed the young girl coming from the new tank’s hatch and, at one stage, apparently in control of the vehicle as the leader looked on intently from the turret, where he stood with his top officers.
According to KCNA, the new armored vehicle is one element of North Korea’s recent emphasis on updating and modernizing its conventional weaponry, which has gone hand-in-hand with its development of missiles and nuclear weapons.
This latest showing is one in a number of carefully staged public appearances for the young daughter at military events, including missile launches and live-fire drills. Analysts say her increasing public role has raised speculation of plans for a future leadership role, although this remains unconfirmed by the North Korean regime.
The appearance of such images has strong symbolic meaning, but experts said any actual demonstration may have been controlled: with the tank in low speed on the flat terrain of the military site, according to an estimate based on what could be seen.
The display of the tank came during an escalation in the Korean Peninsula as North Korea continued to fire missiles during an extended joint military exercise held by the US and South Korea.
