Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been confirmed as director of the general affairs department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The promotion occurred during a plenary meeting amid the ninth party congress, with details revealed in state media on Saturday. Her new role is expected to enhance her authority over the party's internal operations and administrative affairs.
Kim Yo-jong was promoted to a party department chief at the Workers' Party of Korea's (WPK) plenary meeting on Monday, held during the ninth party congress that concluded its weeklong session on Wednesday. However, details of her official title were not disclosed at that time. North Korea's state media referred to her as 'director of the General Affairs Department of the WPK Central Committee' for the first time in its Saturday report, listing her among the major party cadres and military commanders who received a new type of sniper rifle from leader Kim Jong-un as 'special gifts.'
Kim Jong-un met with major leading cadres and military commanding officers at the WPK headquarters building the previous day and presented each with the 'new-generation' sniper rifle, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The KCNA reported that Jo Yong-won and Kim Jae-ryong, members of the presidium of the WPK Central Committee's political bureau, along with members of the Central Military Commission and key military officers, also received the rifles. 'These presents represent my appraisal of your extraordinary devotion for the country and the people and an expression of my absolute trust in you,' Kim said, describing the sniper rifle as a 'wonderful weapon.'
The leader personally awarded weapon certificates to each and shot the rifle with the leading cadres at a firing range, the KCNA said. Meanwhile, photos carried by state media showed Kim's daughter Ju-ae attending the rifle presentation ceremony and participating in a shooting practice session. In a rare move, the North's media disclosed a solo photo of Ju-ae taking aim at a target and shooting a rifle.
Previously, as vice director of the party's propaganda and agitation department, Kim Yo-jong mostly issued messages toward South Korea and the United States, particularly sharp-tongued statements targeting Seoul amid strained inter-Korean ties. With the new title, her authority in the party is expected to grow by leading the department that handles the WPK's internal operations and administrative affairs.
Earlier this month, South Korea's spy agency indicated that Ju-ae may be positioned to succeed her father as state leader. The party congress had drawn attention over whether Ju-ae would receive a formal title, but she only publicly appeared at a military parade on Wednesday night to mark the first party congress in five years.
