SEOUL — Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter rode a tank together during a military training exercise on Thursday. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong Un oversaw firing and other drills involving tank units and infantry troops during the training exercise.

The girl is named Kim Ju Ae and is about 13 years old. Kim Jong Un and his daughter wore black leather jackets during the training exercise, and the tank was olive-green. In the images, the girl stuck her head out of the tank's hatch while Kim Jong Un sat on top of the tank and smiled.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong Un called for completing war preparations. Kim Ju Ae has accompanied her father to high-profile military and other events since late 2022. North Korean state media called Kim Ju Ae Kim Jong Un's "most beloved" or "respected" child.

Kim Jong Un and his daughter fired pistols during a visit to a light munitions factory last week. They also watched a live-fire test of multiple rocket launch systems last week. North Korean state media published footage and photos indicating closeness between Kim Jong Un and his daughter.

Kim Ju Ae traveled to Beijing with her father last September. During New Year's Day celebrations, Kim Ju Ae kissed her father on the cheek. South Korea's spy agency assessed last month that Kim Jong Un was close to designating Kim Ju Ae as his heir.

Some experts disagree with that assessment, citing Kim Jong Un's relatively young age and the extremely male-dominated nature of North Korea's power hierarchy.

The North Korean military training exercise occurred while the U.S. and South Korea were engaged in their annual military exercises. The U.S. and South Korea wrapped up an 11-day computer-simulated command post exercise on Thursday. The U.S. and South Korea continued field training exercises after completing their computer-simulated command post exercise.