Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter were snapped among military officials on a chilling warship days before a visit from China’s Xi Jinping
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has brought his teenage daughter along with him to another military visit, with the pair viewing the dictator’s newest warship.
His daughter Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to be 13 years old, was snapped with her dad as they visited the 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon on Thursday, as it underwent capability tests. This was another example of the North Korean dictator taking his eventual successor with him to view his growing list of military vessels and machines.
While showing off his teen successor on yet another visit, Jong Un also revealed his plans to develop a terrifying “secret underwater weapons”.
These chilling pictures on the warship and threats of new deadly weapons comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea next week, which would be his first visit to the neighbouring ally since 2019. In the past year, Jong Un has been trying to improve ties with China, the North’s biggest trading partner and provider of aid.
Mr Xi will make a state visit from Monday to Tuesday, Chinese and North Korean state media said. His last visit was in June 2019. The North Korean dictator announced his plans to accelerate efforts to develop a nuclear-armed naval fleet and make his “secret underwater weapons” while being snapped with his young daughter.
The teenager stood close to her dad as he was seen talking to military officials and looking at the command centre in his destroyer. Ju Ae was also snapped pointing something out to her dad as the two looked out at the sea during the visit to the warship.
Jong Un and Ju Ae toured the vessel and the dictator was quoted calling for “rapidly developing” naval forces capable of playing a larger role in the country’s nuclear deterrent. He also sent a chilling warning to his enemies in the West and nearby by saying those forces needed to be able to deal a “deadly blow at the enemy any moment under the water or on the water,” state media reported.
Jong Un also outlined a new five-year defence plan which includes building larger 10,000-ton-class destroyers and developing unspecified “underwater secret weapons.” State media outlet Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not report any direct remarks by Kim about Washington or Seoul during his visit.
Xi Jinping will visit North Korea in a trip that will advance ties and strengthen regional peace and stability, a Chinese spokesperson said. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said: “The traditional friendly and cooperative relations between China and the DPRK have continued to develop in a sound and stable manner, bringing tangible benefits to both countries and their peoples.”
The trip is coming just a few weeks after Mr Xi hosted US president Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in quick succession in Beijing. North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme has long been a major concern for the United States, which opposes it. The UN has imposed economic sanctions on North Korea because of its nuclear and missile development.
