North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen large-scale military exercises featuring coordinated infantry and armoured assaults, with his teenage daughter drawing attention after appearing to operate a tank during the drills.
State media footage showed Kim Ju-ae, believed to be around 13, positioned in the driver’s hatch of a moving armoured vehicle while her father rode atop the tank alongside troops. Observers suggested her placement indicated she was controlling the vehicle during the exercise.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, the drills highlighted offensive capabilities and combat preparedness, involving special forces units, reserve armoured formations and a tank company from a cavalry regiment. The exercises included a live demonstration of assault tactics using newly developed tanks.
Kim praised the performance of the latest armoured platform, describing it as highly effective and noting it had taken several years to develop. He signalled plans to expand its deployment across ground forces.
Kim Ju-ae’s growing visibility at major defence events—including missile launches and weapons inspections—continues to fuel speculation about her future role, as tensions remain elevated during ongoing joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which Pyongyang condemns as provocative.
You don’t want to be parked nearby when Ju-ae tries to reverse her tank into a parallel parking spot.
The “British” Royal family are pretenders too; although slightly upper-crust with their aviation.
In your dreams!
I bet she doesn’t need a driver’s license.
How many 13 year old’s get to drive a tank…..its kind of cool…..and something I’d love to do, even at my age.