At a ceremony where Kim Jong-un, chairperson of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, presented officials with new-model rifles, it was confirmed that Kim Yo-jong has taken the post of "secretary-general of the Central Committee." A solo photo of his daughter Ju-ae firing a rifle was also released.
On the 28th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Chairperson Kim Jong-un met key leadership officials and military commanders at the party Central Committee headquarters the previous day and presented as gifts new-model sniper rifles (rifles) newly developed and produced by the Academy of National Defense Science. At the event, the agency referred to Kim Yo-jong as "secretary-general of the Central Committee."
Kim Yo-jong has served as a vice director of the party's Propaganda and Agitation Department, acting as "Kim Jong-un's mouth" by issuing various external messages. On the 23rd during the party congress, she rose to the minister-level position of Labor Party Director General, but her specific post was not disclosed. This is the first time her appointment as secretary-general has been confirmed.
The Labor Party secretary-general's office is known as the department that plays a key role in disseminating the general secretary Kim Jong-un's directives throughout all party organizations. It is also said that the secretary-general's office handles the practical management of all documents within the party.
Meanwhile, Kim's daughter Ju-ae also accompanied him to the event. In particular, a solo photo was released showing Ju-ae, dressed in a leather coat, aiming and firing a rifle. It is being assessed as highly unusual that a photo featuring only Ju-ae, with no one else including Kim, was reported domestically and internationally.
Images were also released of Ju-ae picking up a weapons certificate and appearing to assist with the presentation next to Kim, and of her looking through a telescope next to Kim as he fired. The appearance of Ju-ae together at a gathering of key officials after the 9th party congress is interpreted as staging to emphasize loyalty to Kim Jong-un and his daughter.
At the event, Politburo Presidium member Jo Yong-won; Politburo member Kim Jae-ryong, who appears to have been selected as the party's organizational secretary; and Hyun Song-wol, the party vice director in charge of Kim's protocol, also received rifles. The agency said the recipients also included members of the Central Military Commission of the Labor Party, major commanders of security organs, commanders of large combined units of the People's Army, and commanders of the Guard Unit.
Kim said the rifles were gifts "prepared personally and specially" and a "sign of absolute trust," adding, "Comrades, going forward, I ask you to responsibly carry out your duties of office for the victorious advance of our cause."
Meanwhile, on the 25th, Kim took commemorative photos with People's Army units at all levels, commanders, and soldiers who took part in the military parade commemorating the party congress. The agency said he met the Russian Kursk dispatch unit that participated in the parade and checked on the health of the wounded.