Seoul – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presented new sniper rifles to senior government and military officials following a week-long congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, state media reported. The event drew additional attention due to the prominent presence of his teenage daughter, renewing speculation about succession plans.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim handed over the rifles to senior party and military figures on Friday, expressing “full trust” and gratitude for their commitment over the five years since the previous congress in 2021. Photographs released by state media showed a ceremony at a shooting range, where top officials — including Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong — were seen testing the weapons.
The report confirmed that Kim Yo Jong currently serves as director of the General Affairs Department of the party’s Central Committee. In recent years, she has acted as a key spokesperson, frequently issuing strong statements toward Washington and Seoul. Her new role is seen as further expanding her influence over the party’s internal administration and operations.
Images from the event also showed Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, holding a rifle. She first appeared publicly in November 2022 during an intercontinental ballistic missile test and has since accompanied her father at major military displays, industrial visits and diplomatic events. Believed to be around 13 years old, Kim Ju Ae is widely viewed by South Korean officials as a potential successor, though no formal designation has been announced.
The party congress, held in Pyongyang, concluded on Wednesday. During the meeting, Kim Jong Un reiterated plans to accelerate North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. He also maintained a hardline stance toward South Korea while signaling that dialogue with the United States remains possible — provided that denuclearization is not set as a precondition.
South Korea’s intelligence agency recently suggested that Kim Ju Ae could be formally introduced as heir apparent in the near future. However, she did not appear to take part in the congress’s formal sessions. Party rules reportedly require a minimum age of 18 to hold an official post, making an immediate announcement unlikely.
In its post-congress coverage, state media stated that a “solid foundation has been laid to ensure the proud succession and development of our Party.” Analysts interpret the phrasing as an indirect message about future leadership plans in Pyongyang.
