North Korea's Kim, daughter test pistols together at munitions factory
Published: 12 Mar. 2026, 08:56
Updated: 12 Mar. 2026, 18:34
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- LIM JEONG-WON
- [email protected]
![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fires a pistol at a shooting range on March 11, during his inspection of a factory for light, portable weapons, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on March 12. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/12/71d63b92-4e82-446e-b8b6-916be169be48.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fires a pistol at a shooting range on March 11, during his inspection of a factory for light, portable weapons, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on March 12. [YONHAP]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a factory for light, portable munitions, where he and his teenage daughter tested pistols together, according to state media Thursday.
Kim oversaw arms production at a "major munitions factory" under the second economy commission on Wednesday, where production began based on a new pistol design approved at a meeting of the party's central military commission last month, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The second economy committee oversees the production and development of munitions.
Images released by state media showed daughter Kim Ju-ae accompanying Kim Jong-un on the inspection, both wearing leather jackets, and firing a pistol with her father at the factory's indoor shooting range.
Kim Jong-un has been bringing Kim Ju-ae to most public appearances this month, with her being spotted next to him during a cruise missile test launch on Tuesday and an International Women's Day performance on Sunday just this week.
Kim Ju-ae also attended a ceremony on Feb. 27 beside her father, where they met with Central Military Commission and key military officers of the North Korean military.
South Korea's spy agency said on Feb. 12 that Kim Ju-ae may be positioned to succeed her father as state leader. The party congress earlier this month had drawn attention to whether she would receive a formal title at the party event, but she only publicly appeared at a military parade on Feb. 25 to mark the first party congress in five years.
![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Kim Ju-ae, second from right, fires a pistol at a shooting range on March 11, during an inspection of a factory for light, portable weapons, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on March 12. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/12/e9c23c9d-fc44-4d25-81fb-b6dae36dd600.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Kim Ju-ae, second from right, fires a pistol at a shooting range on March 11, during an inspection of a factory for light, portable weapons, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on March 12. [YONHAP]
During the inspection on Wednesday, Kim Jong-un received a report on the superiority of the new pistol in terms of structural performance, hit rate, concentration fire and combat utility, expressing satisfaction with its development, the KNCA said.
The news agency also said Kim gave an important instruction on establishing a new production line at the factory within the five-year national defense development plan adopted at last month's party congress.
Kim emphasized the importance of factories producing light, portable weapons, including pistols, in strengthening "the combat efficiency of the army, public security forces and militia forces," calling for the expansion and modernization of such factories, the KCNA said.
The leader released a plan to hold an extended meeting of the party's central military commission next month to review the modernization of munitions factories and the budget for upgrading three key munitions companies under the new five-year development plan, the KCNA said.
BY LIM JEONG-WON, YONHAP [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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