After North Korea party congress, Kim gifts rifles to officials, daughter

Increasingly prominent appearances stoke speculation Kim Jong Un is grooming his teenage daughter as a future leader.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presented new sniper rifles to top government and military officials following a weeklong governing party congress lauding his leadership.

State media highlighted an image of his teenage daughter taking aim at a shooting range as her increasingly prominent appearances stoke speculation that Kim is grooming her as a future leader.

Kim presented the rifles to senior party and military officials on Friday, calling them a sign of his “absolute trust” and gratitude for their commitment over the past five years since the last Workers’ Party of Korea congress in 2021, according to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on Saturday.

The report also confirmed that Kim’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, who in recent years has served as his fierce spokesperson with hostile rhetoric directed towards the United States and South Korea, now serves as the general affairs director of the party’s central committee, following a promotion.

Her new title signals a broader role overseeing the party’s internal operations and administrative affairs.