North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong-un (2nd from L) and his wife Ri Sol-ju (far L) pose for a photo with Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd from R) and his wife Peng Liyuan at the state guest house Diaoyutai in Beijing on March 27, 2018, in Beijing, in this photo released by the Rodong Sinmun, the North’s ruling party newspaper, on March 28. After days of secrecy amid signs of such a meeting, the two countries confirmed that Kim traveled to Beijing from March 25-28 at Xi’s invitation. This is Kim’s first known overseas trip since taking power in late 2011. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
Kim Jong-un is having a good month, besides a successful ballistic missile launch over Japan his wife has given birth to another baby:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, left, and his wife Ri Sol-ji visit the Rungna People’s Pleasure Ground in Pyongyang in this 2012 photo. / Korea Times file
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju had their third child earlier this year, according to the National Intelligence Service.
The spy agency submitted a written report to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee Monday that Ri seems to have given birth to their third child in February.
According to the agency, Kim and Ri, who married in 2009, had their first child in 2010 and second one in 2013. There was speculation about Ri’s third pregnancy as she had not appeared at public events for about nine months last year.
The only information known about their children is that the second one is a girl named Ju-ae, which U.S. basketball star Dennis Rodman disclosed after visiting Pyongyang in 2013 at the invitation of Kim, an avid basketball fan.
No other information about the other two children, including their sexes, has been revealed. [Korea Times]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, watch an air combat training competition held by the Korean People’s Air Force and Defense in this photo released on Dec. 4, 2016. It is the first time in nine months the North Korean first lady has appeared in public. (Yonhap)
That is what some North Korean watchers are thinking considering that she has been out of the public spotlight for the past 7 months:
Ri Sol-ju, the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has not shown up at public events for over seven months, an analysis of the North’s media reports showed Sunday.
Ri’s public activity was last reported by the North’s media on March 28, 2016, when she accompanied Kim on his visit to a newly built commercial district and health complex in Pyongyang. At that time, Kim and Ri met with officials and employees at the Mirae Shop and the health complex.
Earlier, Ri accompanied Kim 18 times in 2012, 22 times in 2013 and 15 times in 2014. But the number fell sharply to seven last year and three this year, according to the analysis.
“Ri showed up at public events every two months last year but has not appeared in public for over seven months this year. That’s quite extraordinary,” said a North Korea watcher. “Some sources speculate Ri’s disappearance may be linked to a check on her activities by Kim’s younger sister Kim Yo-jong.”
Other watchers are raising speculation about a possible pregnancy or marital rift. [Korea Times]
I would think that anyone that is part of the ruling regime would appear to have a lavish lifestyle compared to ordinary North Koreans:
North Korea‘s first lady Ri Sol Ju is rarely seen in public, but according to a recent report, the wife of leader Kim Jong Un is not well liked.
Ri is best known for her love of luxury goods that suggest she leads a lavish lifestyle, Asia Press reported Wednesday.
North Korean reporters who went undercover to gather opinions about life in the secluded country said Ri gets bad ratings for her choices at a time when many North Koreans say their standard of living has worsened since Kim came to power.
North Koreans who were interviewed anonymously called Kim a “rookie” and “fearsome.”
But they reserved their most negative remarks for Ri, who, according to the report is 26 years old and traveled to South Korea in 2005 with a North Korean cheerleading squad during the Asian Athletics Championship in Incheon.
Some North Koreans complained that they were irritated with her debut on state media, where she was touted as “Respectable Comrade Ri Sol Ju.”
One male worker in the North Korean province of Yanggangdo said the title was undeserved, adding, “What did she do to earn such praise? And why does she carry a moneybag everywhere she goes? Is she giving out money?”
Ri is often seen with an expensive French purse on her arm. [UPI]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) and his wife Ri Sol-ju view a joint performance given by the State Merited Chorus and the Moranbong Band, a popular all-female music band, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, in this photo released by the North’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Oct. 19, 2015. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) and Ri Sol-ju (L) applaud as they watch an art performance given by the State Merited Chorus to mark the 62nd anniversary on July 27 of the Armistice Agreement that effectively ended the 1950-53 Korean War, in this image taken from the Korean Central TV Broadcasting Station on Aug. 4, 2015. The report did not mention when the meeting was held. (Yonhap)
