North Korea Conducts Rocket Launch with Kim Jong Un and Daughter Present

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a live test of a multi-rocket launch system alongside his teenage daughter on Saturday. This occurred during joint military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea, marking an increase in weapons demonstrations, as reported by state media.

North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated that Kim commanded an assault training event involving 12 units of 600mm ultra-precision rocket artillery along the eastern coastline of the country.

Simultaneously, South Korea’s military reported identifying around 10 ballistic missiles launched from areas near Pyongyang, the North’s capital.

In response to the missile tests, South Korea’s National Security Council condemned the launches as provocations, asserting they violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from conducting such missile tests.

According to state media, Kim indicated that the exercise aimed to showcase the destructive potential of North Korea’s tactical nuclear capabilities, stating, “If this weapon is used, the enemy’s military infrastructure within the attack range will never survive.”

Photos released revealed Kim Jong Un and his daughter, reportedly around 13 or 14 years old, near the launch truck. Kim Jue has made several appearances with her father at military events since late 2022, raising speculation regarding her potential future as a leader.

The live-fire exercise followed the start of annual military drills between the United States and South Korea, which North Korea consistently denounces as invasions rehearsals.

Recent reports also suggested that Kim Jong Un might have appointed his daughter to a significant position in the regime’s Missile Control Bureau, which manages North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.