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.Published On 28 Feb 2026North 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.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3North Korea’s Kim Jong Un warns South Korea, says US should end hostilitylist 2 of 3North Korea promotes Kim Jong Un’s sister as he vows to boost economylist 3 of 3North Korea’s Kim Jong Un re-elected as chief of Workers’ Partyend of listKim 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.State media photos showed Kim Yo Jong and other top officials aiming the rifles handed out by Kim Jong Un at a shooting range. Kim’s young daughter, wearing a brown leather coat similar to her father’s, was also seen handling a weapon.Since first appearing in public at a long-range missile test in November 2022, the girl – believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and about 13 years old – has accompanied her father to a growing number of events, including military demonstrations, factory openings and a trip to Beijing in September, where Kim Jong Un held his first summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in six years.