North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Tests New Battle Tank as Daughter Drives It

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised large-scale offensive tactical military exercises involving tank units and infantry troops.

“North Korean leader Kim Jong Un conducted a 'new type of battle tank' during military exercises in North Korea, as the United States and South Korea conduct joint drills, the official KCNA news agency reported on Thursday, March 14”

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The official Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday that Kim oversaw the exercises conducted on Thursday and called for completing war preparations.

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State media released video and images showing Kim's daughter sticking her head out of the driver's hatch of a moving olive green tank while her father sat on top with three soldiers.

This marked their latest joint public appearance that has fueled outside speculation about the girl being groomed as Kim's heir.

Kim, clad in a black leather jacket, greeted North Korean soldiers in camouflage gear amid applause during these exercises that took place in Pyongyang.

Kim Ju Ae, reportedly named and aged about 13, has been increasingly visible in high-profile military and political events alongside her father since late 2022.

Her driving of the tank marked her first such activity, according to multiple sources.

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Observers note that while her position clearly showed she was driving the armored vehicle, modern tanks are not technically complicated to pilot, especially when moving slowly for brief periods.

The girl has accompanied Kim to numerous events including missile tests, rocket launches, pistol firing sessions at munitions factories, and live-fire tests of multiple rocket launch systems.

North Korean state media has consistently referred to her as Kim Jong Un's "most beloved" or "respected" child, publishing footage and photos that emphasize the close relationship.

This visibility has fueled speculation that she is being groomed as a potential successor to her father.

The military exercises featured the testing of a new type of battle tank described as 'the most powerful in the world' with 'excellent firepower'.

“El líder norcoreano, Kim Jong-un, acompañado de su hija, Kim Ju-ae, supervisó unos ejercicios militares ofensivos en los que se probó un nuevo tanque capaz de interceptar ataques con drones y misiles, según recoge este viernes la agencia estatal KCNA”

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Kim personally piloted the tank himself after reviewing the crews, seizing the command lever and driving the vehicle during the exercises.

The new tank capabilities include superior mobility, firepower, and defense against drones and anti-tank missiles.

The state agency described how the tanks 'slipped quickly through various dire combat circumstances, hitting targets with powerful strikes and breaking through solid defenses'.

The 105th Tank Division, which had occupied Seoul during the Korean War, was declared the winner of the simulated battle.

The North Korean military exercises took place on Thursday, March 19, 2026, coinciding with the conclusion of annual spring military drills by the United States and South Korea.

The US-South Korea drills had doubled the number of soldiers compared to 2023, according to reports.

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Pyongyang has long condemned these exercises, viewing them as rehearsals for an invasion of North Korean territory.

The timing appears deliberate as US Secretary of State plans to travel to Seoul next week.

North Korea, equipped with nuclear weapons, has been responding to what it perceives as growing threats from the US-South Korea alliance.

The exercises featured drones and armored vehicles, with attack drones striking enemy positions based on real-time reconnaissance data.

Military experts have analyzed the significance of both Kim Jong Un's personal involvement in tank operations and his daughter's visible role in the military exercises.

“North Korea: Kim Jong-un tests a new battle tank, 'the most powerful in the world'”

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South Korean expert Lee Illwoo from the Korea Defense Network noted that while Kim Ju Ae's position clearly showed she was driving the tank, modern tanks are not technically complicated to pilot.

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'She only drove straight at a low speed. It's also easy to drive modern tanks, and I think it was easier for her to drive as she was on a flat ground,' Lee stated.

The exercises demonstrate North Korea's continuing focus on military modernization and its determination to maintain readiness amid perceived external threats.

Kim's satisfaction with the tank's capabilities and his call for completing war preparations indicate the regime's ongoing commitment to military strength as a cornerstone of its national security strategy.