North Korean leader Kim Jong Un brought his daughter to visit troops to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the country’s army, praising the “irresistible might” of his nuclear-armed military, according to state media on Wednesday.
The visit coincided with reports that North Korea is planning a massive military parade in Pyongyang, where it could display the latest hardware from its expanding nuclear weapons programme, which has alarmed its neighbours and the United States.
Kim’s daughter Kim Ju Ae, believed to be 9 or 10 years old, stood close to her father as he shook the hands of senior officials and sat next to him at a table in her fourth known public appearance. According to analysts, Kim’s decision to bring His daughter’s attendance at military-related public events serves as a reminder to the world that he has no intention of voluntarily surrendering his nuclear weapons, which he apparently sees as the best guarantee of his survival and the extension of his family’s dynastic rule.
The state media’s high praise for Kim Ju Ae, who has been described as “respected” and “beloved,” has sparked speculation about whether she is being groomed to be her father’s successor. In November, she witnessed an intercontinental ballistic missile flight test and accompanied her father to a meeting with military scientists and a missile inspection.
According to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency, Kim went to the general officers’ lodging quarters with his daughter on Wednesday. He later addressed troops at a banquet, praising them for maintaining the “strongest army in the world” despite external challenges.
Kim’s visit came a day after he presided over a meeting with his top military brass and called for more military spending.
an increase in combat exercises aimed at sharpening war readiness, as he seeks to escalate an already provocative run of weapons demonstrations in the face of deepening tensions with his neighbours and Washington.
Military officials were seen applauding at the banquet, which appeared to be held at Pyongyang’s Yanggakdo Hotel. Kim and his daughter wore matching black suits and white dress shirts and walked down the red carpet with Kim’s wife, Ri Sol Ju.
During his speech, Kim stated that being the supreme commander of an army that is “fulfilling (the) call of the times and history as the strongest army in the world” was his “greatest honour” and delight.
Kim
State media reports on Kim’s visit to troops made no mention of any remarks directed at Washington or Seoul. However, Pyongyang’s official Rodong Sinmun newspaper stated in an editorial on Wednesday that the North Korean military is ready to launch a “super strong strike.” of unimaginable might to wipe out the origins of provocations without a trace” when facing enemy threats.
According to the newspaper, North Korea’s increased weapons tests and combat exercises last year were successful demonstrations of “overwhelming military might,” bolstering the government’s escalatory nuclear doctrine and its principle of “power-to-power, all-out confrontation” with enemies.
The North Korean government has not confirmed plans for a military parade, which could take place later Wednesday. Residents in Pyongyang commemorated the anniversary by going to the city’s Mansu Hill to lay flowers and pay respects to the statues of their late leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, their ruler’s grandfather and father, respectively, as soldiers saluted.
Commercial satellite images show weeks of apparent preparations involving massive numbers of troops and civilians for an event that is typically intended to glorify Kim Jong Un’s regime.
rule and his relentless pursuit of the North’s nuclear status.
North Korea is also facing increased economic isolation and food shortages, demonstrating that the costs of Kim’s nuclear ambitions are mounting.
North Korea is coming off a record-breaking year of weapon testing, with dozens of missiles fired in 2022 including potentially nuclear-capable systems designed to strike targets in South Korea and the United States mainland.
The increased testing activity was punctuated by fiery statements threatening preemptive nuclear attacks on its neighbours and the United States in a variety of scenarios in which it perceives its leadership to be under threat.
With Kim doubling down on his nuclear push into 2023, tensions could rise in the coming months.
Kim called for a “exponential increase” in the country’s nuclear warheads at a major political conference in December.
Mass production of battlefield tactical nukes aimed at “enemy” South Korea, as well as the development of more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the continental US.
Aside from developmental tests, North Korea may increase military exercises in response to the United States’ expanding combined military exercises with South Korea, which the allies claim are aimed at countering the North’s evolving threat.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry warned last week that the country is ready to counter US military moves with the “most overwhelming nuclear force,” as it condemned US plans to expand its joint military exercises with South Korea and deploy more advanced military assets to the region, such as bombers and aircraft carriers.