Kim’s daughter ‘drives tank’ during North Korean war drills (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
The leader oversaw assault exercises as 13-year-old Kim Ju-ae appeared to take the controls of an armored vehicle
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter appeared to drive a tank as her father rode on top of the vehicle during large-scale drills.
Kim oversaw the offensive exercise showcasing joint infantry and armored advances, highlighting a focus on combat readiness, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.
Footage released by KCNA showed Kim Ju-ae, believed to be about 13, with her head out of the driver’s hatch of a moving tank as her father sat on top with soldiers. Observers said her position indicated she was operating the vehicle.
The drills reportedly involved special forces units, armored elements from the general staff’s operational reserve and a tank company from a cavalry regiment.
They included a demonstration assault by a tank company equipped with the latest models of tanks, KCNA said.
Kim praised the new tank’s combat performance as “excellent” and said its development had taken about seven years, adding that ground forces would be widely equipped with the vehicles.
Kim Ju-ae’s presence at high-profile exercises has drawn attention as she is increasingly seen alongside the North Korean leader during key defense activities, including missile tests and weapons inspections.
The drills come amid ongoing US-South Korean joint exercises, which Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned as rehearsals for invasion.