North Korea unveils image of Kim’s teenage daughter firing rifle at shooting range

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gifted new sniper rifles to top government and military officials following a weeklong ruling party congress celebrating his leadership, with state media highlighting an image of his teenage daughter taking aim at a shooting range as her increasingly prominent appearances fuel speculation 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 congress in 2021, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday.The report also confirmed Kim’s powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong, who in recent years has served as his fierce spokeswoman towards Washington and Seoul, now serves as the general affairs director of the party’s central committee following a promotion at the congress. Her new title signals a broader role overseeing the party’s internal operations and administrative affairs.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gestures while his daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju-ae, looks on during a military parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday. Photo: EPA/KCNAState 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 the weapon as smoke rose from the barrel.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.The party congress, which concluded on Wednesday in Pyongyang after seven days, is North Korea’s most significant political event, held every five years since 2016, and a carefully choreographed spectacle glorifying Kim’s leadership before thousands of delegates.At this year’s meetings, Kim doubled down on his plans to accelerate North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, which already is equipped with various weapons systems threatening the United States and US allies in Asia, and confirmed his hardline view of rival South Korea.