Trending Now - Kim Jong Un Highlights Daughter as Potential Successor With Rifle Gifts
WHO:
Kim Jong Un, North Korean leader
Kim Ju Ae, Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter, believed to be about 13 years old
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister, newly appointed general affairs director of the party’s central committee
Senior party and military officials of North Korea
South Korea’s spy agency
WHAT:
Kim Jong Un gifted new sniper rifles to top government and military officials
The rifles were presented as a sign of Kim's “absolute trust” and gratitude for their commitment over the past five years since the last Workers’ Party congress in 2021
27 pictures of the shooting event were released by North Korean state media
Kim Ju Ae was seen firing a sniper rifle and handling weapons at the shooting range
The party congress concluded with a military parade featuring approximately 14,000 troops
Kim reiterated plans to accelerate North Korea's nuclear arsenal and confirmed a hard-line stance towards South Korea
The congress is North Korea’s most significant political event, held every five years since 2016
WHERE:
North Korea, specifically Pyongyang and Kim Il Sung Square
The shooting range where the rifles were used
WHEN:
The party congress concluded on February 25, 2026
The rifles were presented on February 25, 2026
Kim Ju Ae first appeared in public at a long-range missile test in November 2022
Kim Jong Un held a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in September 2025
WHY:
The gifting of rifles and the promotion of Kim Ju Ae are seen as part of Kim Jong Un's efforts to groom her as a potential successor, extending the Kim family's dynastic rule
The congress served to reaffirm Kim's leadership and solidify his power within the party
HOW:
The rifles were presented during a carefully choreographed spectacle at the party congress, which included a military parade and various events showcasing Kim's leadership
State media highlighted Kim Ju Ae's involvement in the shooting event to emphasize her potential role in succession training
In a significant display of power, Kim Jong Un presented new sniper rifles to top government and military officials during the conclusion of the Workers’ Party congress in Pyongyang on February 25, 2026, emphasizing his “absolute trust” in their loyalty over the past five years. The event featured Kim's teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who was seen firing a sniper rifle, marking her continued public appearances as she is groomed for a potential leadership role in the future. The congress, which is North Korea's most important political event held every five years, also reaffirmed Kim's hard-line stance toward South Korea and included a military parade with around 14,000 troops.