Kim Jong Un Oversees North Korea's Missile Test with Daughter, Vows 'Fiercer' Military Response Against US, Allies

Kim Jong Un Oversees North Korea's Missile Test with Daughter, Vows 'Fiercer' Military Response Against US, Allies
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, promised to use nuclear weapons to confront US nuclear threats as he watched a test of the nation's latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). KHAM/AFP via Getty Images

The little-known daughter of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un was introduced today, drawing attention to a fourth generation member of the family that has dominated the country for more than seven decades.

The launch of the North's brand-new intercontinental ballistic missile was witnessed by Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju, their "dear daughter," and other dignitaries, according to the North's state media on Saturday.

North Korea's Strongest Missile Test

The launch of the Hwasong-17 missile, the North's longest-range, nuclear-capable missile, according to Kim Jong Un, demonstrated that he had a dependable weapon to counter threats from the US-led force.

A number of images showing Kim Jong Un and his daughter watching a missile take off from a distance were also made public by the leading Rodong Sinmun newspaper, according to Sun Star. In other pictures, she can be seen walking hand in hand with her father past a large missile perched atop a launch truck while having her hair pulled back, a white coat, and red shoes.

The daughter's name and pictures have never before been mentioned in state media in North Korea. Her name and age were not included in the information that KCNA provided about her, as per News18.

According to Cheong Seong-chang of the Center for North Korea Studies at the Sejong Institute in South Korea, who also described Ju Ae as a North Korean "princess," the daughter shown in the photos is most certainly Kim Jong Un's second child and is most likely Ju Ae.

She will probably be allowed to engage in state matters now that her name has been exposed, he added, noting that her presence with her father would even suggest she is his chosen successor.

North Korea Calls UN 'a Puppet of US'

According to a statement in state-run media outlet KCNA, North Korea's foreign minister on Sunday voiced "strong regret" over UN head Antonio Guterres' criticism of the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile test.

In one of its most potent tests to date, North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday, prompting Guterres to call on Pyongyang to stop all further "provocative measures." With "my profound concern over the fact that the UN secretary-general has taken a really reprehensible stance," foreign minister Choe Son Hui reacted.

According to Choe, the UN chief's remarks were "oblivious to the purpose and values of the UN Charter and its rightful duty, which is to preserve impartiality, objectivity, and equality in all affairs." Nuclear-armed North Korea has carried out a record-breaking blitz of launches in recent weeks, which Pyongyang - and Moscow - have repeatedly attributed to Washington's actions to increase the protection it offers to allies Seoul and Tokyo.

Per NDTV, she added that the episode shows that Guterres "is a puppet of the US." The United States has increased regional security cooperation ever since Kim declared North Korea a "irreversible" nuclear state in September.

According to South Korea's military, the Hwasong 17 missile traveled 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to a height of 6,100 kilometers, which is only marginally less than the ICBM Pyongyang launched on March 24 that seemed to be North Korea's most potent test to yet. Tokyo and Washington conducted combined military exercises in the skies above the Sea of Japan later on Friday.

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Kim jong un, North korea
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