North Korea portrays dictator Kim Jong Un as a warrior, but also a puppy-loving family man

Seoul— As the United States engages Iran in a deadly and rapidly expanding warunusually candid images emerged of another major American adversary who seemed preoccupied with decidedly more domestic matters. North Korea has offered a rare glimpse of dictator Kim Jong Un as a family man and pet lover.

North Korean state media on Thursday released images of Kim inspecting the naval destroyer Choe Hyon and its weapons systems, saying he intended to build “the strongest navy” in the country’s history.

It may have been an attempt to project force following the U.S. strikes that killed Iran’s longtime supreme leader and, before that, the capture of former president of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro in the country’s capital.

But separately, a video appeared. — with little fanfare from the Pyongyang regime — showing Kim spending a seemingly relaxing afternoon with his daughter Ju Ae, sister Yo Jung, and wife Ri Sul Ju, enjoying the company of some puppies.

North Korean state media often describes Ju Ae as its “beloved daughter,” and South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has assessed that she is she has probably been chosen to succeed her fathercontinuing the ruling dynasty of the Kim family.

South Korean analysts believe the video, shared on Feb. 17 by an Instagram account identified as a North Korean “government official,” featuring images of a young woman in military clothing, was likely first broadcast domestically, rather than widely distributed through international channels closely monitored by foreign media.

A collection of photographs shared by North Korean state media also indicates that the video was filmed in a pet store inside a new compound during a visit by the Kims on or around February 17. They include images of Kim and her daughter also browsing what appears to be a musical instrument store on the site.

In the video and photos, Kim and her daughter, 13, are seen in coordinating black coats visiting new facilities in Pyongyang, described by state media as part of a “fourth-stage construction project” to provide social and sports services to residents.

Ju Ae is seen admiring some dogs, including a traditional Korean Pungsan. At one point, her mother, Ri Sol Ju, appears to gently scold her for some transgression while Kim watches with a wide smile. Her sister Kim Yo Jong can be seen nearby, also smiling as the moment unfolds.

In several scenes, Kim playfully interacts with the dogs. Instead of the stern commander often depicted inspecting missiles or military parades and railing against the United States, he appears relaxed, attentive, and openly affectionate toward his daughter.

Attentive observers noticed a small but potentially symbolic detail in the video: Kim is seen passing a Shiba Inu, a Japanese breed, uninterestedly, before fawning over a Shih Tzu, a breed with origins in China’s royal palaces, possibly hinting at diplomatic relations between the three countries.