North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presented newly developed sniper rifles to senior party and military officials, describing the weapon as a «wonderful» symbol of his confidence in them, according to state news agency Korean Central News Agency.
The ceremony took place on Friday at the headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Korea, where Kim met leading party cadres and military commanders. Each recipient was handed a new-generation sniper rifle produced by the country’s Academy of Defence Science.
«As was already made public, this new-generation sniper’s rifle our Academy of Defence Science developed and produced is really a wonderful weapon,» Kim was quoted as saying.
The presentation marked the closing events of the party’s Ninth Congress.
Family members appear at ceremony
Among those receiving the rifles were members of the party’s Central Military Commission, senior commanders of the Korean People’s Army and elite guard units.
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, was also among the recipients. State media identified her for the first time as director of the General Affairs Department of the party’s Central Committee.
Photographs released by KCNA also showed Kim’s teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, attending the event and handling a rifle at a firing range. Ju Ae, believed to be in her early teens, has increasingly appeared alongside her father at public events including inspections of weapons programmes.
Analysts have speculated that her growing visibility could signal preparation for a future leadership role. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has suggested she may already be involved in policy discussions and is being treated as a de facto second-ranking figure in the country.
State media also released images of Kim Yo Jong posing with a rifle alongside Hyon Song Wol, a close aide to the North Korean leader.
The week-long party congress concluded with a large military parade.
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