North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has appeared with his young daughter in public for the first time, confirming long-rumoured reports of her existence.

The girl, believed to be named Kim Chu-ae, joined him at an inspection of the country's largest intercontinental ballistic missile launch on Friday.

The pair stood hand-in-hand during the test, which was condemned by the US.

Mr Kim leads one of the world's most secretive states, and very little is known about his personal life.

Several photos were published by North Korea's state news agency KCNA, showing the two holding hands while they chat, speak with officials, inspect missiles and watch the launch from a viewing deck.

Chu-ae's public appearance is significant, said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert from the Stimson Center in Washington DC.

Mr Kim - the third generation in his family to lead North Korea - is showing elites in his country that he still has a firm grip on power, Mr Madden told the BBC.

He said it could be Mr Kim's way of showing "that the fourth generation of power succession is going to come through my [blood]line".

It came after reports that "there was some sort of conflict between [Mr Kim] and other elite cohorts in 2021", Mr Madden explained.

"If you challenge me, you're going to go down," is the message from Mr Kim, he said.

Mr Madden said he believed Chu-ae was aged between 12 and 13, which meant that in about four to five years she will be preparing to go to university or into military service.

In September, several North Korea experts reported that Chu-ae was shown in a video at the country's National Day celebrations.

But this was speculation, and the North Korean leadership did not confirm that it was indeed the leader's daughter.

The first time Chu-ae's existence was ever mentioned was in 2013, after retired American basketball star Dennis Rodman made a controversial trip to North Korea.

Mr Rodman said he had spent time with Mr Kim's family, relaxing by the sea and had "held their baby Chu-ae".

Experts believe Mr Kim may have as many as three children - two girls and a boy, with Chu-ae being the oldest.

But the leader is extremely secretive about his family - even his wife Ri Sol-ju was kept a secret until some time after the pair married.

ShoeWorld2:
NK tested a long range missile for the first time capable of reaching the USA. Now USA and SK are conducting a military drill to show the readiness of their forces.
Since Biden won the presidential election, he has completely ignored Kim like he never existed and Kim is seriously pained that's why he has been doing missile test for the past one year non stop

thesicilian:
At every point in time, the world needs "villains" like North Korea and Russia to keep superpowers like USA and UK in check.

ObaKlaz:
She's short and underaged. We for 'harvest' her, but her father is dangerous.

spinna:
Aww even evil dictators can be cute daddys... But fear that child in the near future.. childhood go soon end

Parachoko:
Kim is not pained, he does not care about Biden ignoring him or not, he is not just ready to end up like Muammar Gadaffi.

Muammar Gadaffi focus on giving his people a good life and abandon his military, under Gadaffi, Libyans were living comfortably.

Majority of North Korean citizens are living in poverty, but Kim is spending lots of monet on her military. Kim knows he won't last in a conventional war against the US and South Korea Military, the only thing that can protect him from does two country is him having a Nuclear weapon.

Imagine if Gadaffi had nuclear weapons, NATO would have never tried the rubbish they did in Libya.

Libya a prospering country don become a Banana Republic

decatalyst:


Don't mention UK please!


UK is not and can not be a superpower. Those folks are conservative and the economy is in shambles plus the Brexit thingy is a prove that it is not self sustaining as we thought before now.

It will take years of giving countries work visas, students visas, and immigration visas for them to build something meaningful with their economy.

ObaKlaz:
She's short and underaged. We for 'harvest' her, but her father is dangerous.

thesicilian:
At every point in time, the world needs "villains" like North Korea and Russia to keep superpowers like USA and UK in check.

Speedition:


Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63685497

ObaKlaz:
She's short and underaged. We for 'harvest' her, but her father is dangerous.

thesicilian:
At every point in time, the world needs "villains" like North Korea and Russia to keep superpowers like USA and UK in check.

spinna:
Aww even evil dictators can be cute daddys... But fear that child in the near future.. childhood go soon end