SEOUL — North Korea has conducted a significant live-fire test of its multiple rocket launch systems, a move widely seen as a defiant response to ongoing joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. Accompanied by his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised the drill, which featured twelve “ultra-precision” 600mm-caliber launchers. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the rockets successfully “battered” an island target in the East Sea located approximately 360 kilometers away, demonstrating what Kim described as the “destructive power of tactical nuclear weapons.”
The South Korean military confirmed the activity on Saturday, detecting a barrage of about 10 ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang region. South Korea’s National Security Council (NSC) quickly convened an emergency meeting, denouncing the launches as a “grave provocation” and a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that prohibit the North from conducting ballistic missile tests. Officials in Seoul and Washington have stepped up their surveillance, maintaining a high state of readiness as the regional security situation grows increasingly volatile.
The timing of the test is highly symbolic, occurring during the “Freedom Shield” joint military exercises, which are scheduled to continue until March 19. North Korea has long viewed these annual drills as a rehearsal for an invasion and frequently responds with its own shows of force. During the inspection, Kim Jong Un stated that the exercise was intended to send a clear warning to “hostile forces” within their striking range, emphasizing that military infrastructure belonging to opponents would “never survive” if these tactical weapons were deployed in a real-world conflict.
The presence of 13-year-old Kim Ju Ae at such a high-stakes military event has once again fueled international speculation regarding the North’s succession plans. Ju Ae has become a regular fixture at major military parades and missile sites since 2022, often appearing in prominent photographs alongside her father. Analysts suggest that her consistent involvement in the “ballistic show” is intended to signal her status as the potential heir to the Kim dynasty, reinforcing the regime’s long-term commitment to its nuclear and missile programs.
