Kim Jong Un's Daughter Makes First Public Appearance In North Korea's Most Recent ICBM Launch Test

The daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made her first public appearance alongside her father on Friday as he oversaw the launch of “a new type” of intercontinental ballistic missile. The appearance of Kim’s daughter had not been confirmed until photographs released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency showed the leader hand in hand with his girl as the ICBM rested on its mobile launch platform nearby.

According to Reuters, North Korean state media claimed that the “new” missile viewed by Kim and his daughter was a Hwasong-17. The weapon was launched from Pyongyang International Airfield and reportedly flew a distance of 999.2 kilometers. It landed about 210 kilometers west of the Japanese Island of Oshima.

Following the launch, the Japanese government warned that the new missile could have the potential range to hit the United States mainland. Kim said the test launch was intended to demonstrate his country’s ability to respond to what he calls “hysteric aggression war drills by the enemies seeking to destroy peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.”

A declaration by Kim said that if his enemies continue to pose threats toward North Korea, by frequently introducing means for nuclear strikes, the party and government will resolutely react to nukes with their own nuclear arsenal, and will respond to total confrontation with all-out confrontation.

The missile that was launched on Friday was said to have landed about 210 kilometers west of the Oshima island of Japan. Officials from Japan said this was not the first time North Korea has fired an ICBM which experts claimed has the capability to reach U.S. soil. Friday’s missile was said to have a lower altitude compared to Pyongyang’s last test launch on March 24, which is said to have the highest altitude and longest duration of any missile ever recorded from North Korea.

Reports from KCNA from that time showed the missile reached an altitude of 6,248.5 kilometers and flew a distance of 1,090 kilometers. In 2017, then-U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said a missile launch from North Korea demonstrated its capability to hit every nation in the world.

As for the leader's daughter, very little is known about her. In 2013, Former basketball star Dennis Rodman was privileged to have spent some time with Kim's family. Although the leader's daughter was never officially named by the state media, Rodman was quoted referring to her in one of his interviews with The Guardian. “I held their baby Ju Ae and spoke with Ms. Ri as well,” the basketball star said.