▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fires a pistol at a shooting range on March 11, 2026, during his inspection of a factory for light, portable weapons, accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
▲ Ju-ae (2nd from R), the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, fires a pistol at a shooting range on March 11, 2026, while she accompanies her father on an inspection of a factory for light, portable weapons, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae takes aim at a target with a sniper rifle at a firing range on Feb. 27, 2026, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) NK leader-munitions factory

(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim, daughter test pistols together at munitions factory

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info, photo in last 6 paras)

SEOUL, 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 the previous day, 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 Ju-ae accompanying Kim on the inspection, both wearing leather jackets, and firing a pistol with her father at the factory's indoor shooting range.

Kim 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.

KCNA photos showed leader Kim conducting a solo test of a pistol, while Ju-ae fired the weapon alongside military officials.

Coverage by the state-run Korean Central Television showed several party secretaries, Defense Minister No Kwang-chol and Kim's sister Yo-jong accompanying the leader on the inspection.

It marks the second time the North has publicly released images of the teenage daughter, widely seen as Kim's heir apparent, handling firearms.

Last month, Ju-ae was seen in North Korean media taking aim at a target with a sniper rifle, as her father presented rifles to key party and military officials as presents.

Repeated images of Ju-ae handling and shooting firearms may be intended to cement her public image as a future leader, experts said, as the North is believed to be grooming her as Kim's successor.

"By showing images of her shooting guns or inspecting munitions factories, (the North) may be seeking to cement (public) recognition that she is qualified to control the military in the future," said Lim Eul-chul,a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

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