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Ri Sol-ju

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In this Korean name, the family name is Ri.
Respected First Lady
Ri Sol-ju
리설주
Ri in 2018
First Lady of North Korea
Incumbent
Assumed role
April 15, 2018
Supreme LeaderKim Jong Un
Preceded byKim Song-ae
Personal details
Bornc. 1985–1989 (age 34–39)
Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea[1]
Spouse
​
(m. 2009)​
Children2 unconfirmed,
1 confirmed: Kim Ju-ae
Alma materKim Il Sung University
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
리설주
Hancha
Revised RomanizationRi Seol-ju
McCune–ReischauerRi Sŏlju

Ri Sol-ju (Korean: 리설주; born c. 1985–1989)[2][3][4] is the current First Lady of North Korea as the wife of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.[5]

Little is known about her from official North Korean sources, but outside sources have speculated more about her background. While she has made many public appearances with her husband, she has also spent long periods out of the public eye. In April 2018, state media had announced that her new title had been elevated from merely "Comrade" (동무) to "Respected First Lady" (존경하는 녀사) – considered a significant honor and the first time the title has been used since 1974.[6] At the same time, she began to take on a diplomatic role.

Biography

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family have been characterized as "secretive".[7] Very little information about Ri Sol-ju has appeared in official North Korean sources, but more speculative information has been reported in foreign media.[8][9]

Early life

Very little is known for certain about Ri's origins; some analysts have even said that her name "almost certainly is a pseudonym".[10] Her reported year of birth has ranged between 1985[2] and 1989.[10][3][4] According to The Wall Street Journal, she was born in Chongjin, the capital of North Hamgyong Province.[1] Ri's family is reportedly from the political elite; her mother is the head of a gynecology ward and her father is a professor.[10][11] She is said to have graduated from Geumsung 2 Middle School in Pyongyang and studied abroad in China, majoring in vocal music.[4] She is said to be related to Ri Pyong-chol, a former general of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force and close advisor of Kim Jong Un.[12] JoongAng Ilbo and some commentators have identified Ri as a singer in the Unhasu Orchestra that has made several overseas performances.[13][11][14][15] Reportedly, North Korean officials are "trying to erase her past as a singer and entertainer by confiscating popular bootleg CDs of her performances",[16] such as her singing the song "Sobaeksu".[17] In 2012, she was reportedly a graduate student at Kim Il Sung University, pursuing a PhD in science.[10][needs update]

Ri reportedly visited South Korea in 2005, as a member of the North Korean cheerleading team during the Asian Athletics Championships.[4][11][18] She was said to be among 90 cheerleaders who chanted "We are one!"[4] Ri reportedly told a South Korean teacher while on the trip: "We want to take classes from the South's teachers after being reunited as soon as possible."[18]

Marriage and children

The BBC, quoting an analyst who spoke to The Korea Times of South Korea, reported that Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, had hastily arranged his son's marriage after suffering a stroke in 2008. The two were reportedly married in 2009.[19][20] Her identity as Kim Jong Un's wife first became known to the public in July 2012.[5]

Ri possibly gave birth to a child in 2010; sources reported it was a boy.[19][20][21]

In December 2012, it was reported that Ri was visibly pregnant, although North Korean officials did not comment.[22][23][24] In March 2013, former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman visited Kim Jong Un in North Korea. Rodman told The Guardian in September 2013 that the couple's child, a girl, is named Kim Ju-ae (Korean: 김주애).[25] He said that Jong-un had "a beautiful family" and was a "good dad".[20]

South Korean intelligence officials reported that Ri gave birth to a third child of unknown gender in February 2017.[20]

In November 2022, North Korean state media published photographs of Kim Jong Un holding hands with his young daughter at the site of a missile launch in Pyongyang. While the child was not named, observers believe it is Kim Ju-ae.[26]

First Lady of North Korea

In 2012, Ri made several public appearances standing next to Kim Jong Un, causing speculation about who she might be. South Korean intelligence officials wrongly identified her as Hyon Song-wol, a former singer for the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble, a musical group popular in North Korea.[27][28] However, on July 25, 2012, North Korean state media announced that she was actually Kim's wife, saying she was "his wife, Comrade Ri Sol-ju".[19][29] The announcement of the marriage marked a change from Kim's father Kim Jong Il, who had never introduced his wives to the public.[5]

In July 2012, at an elite gala concert in North Korea, Ri was stylishly "dressed in a trim black suit in the Chanel tradition", considered unusual for North Korean women.[5] Along with other recent changes, such as the firing of a hard-line top general, Kim Jong Un's marriage is seen by analysts as "a continuation of what is either a policy change, or a propaganda offensive, or both".[5]

In September 2012, Kenji Fujimoto, the former personal sushi chef of Kim Jong Il, said he met Ri on a recent trip to North Korea. He described her as "just so charming ... I cannot describe her voice, it's so soft ..."[30][31] As a parting gift, Ri gave Fujimoto a Christian Dior handbag,[31] which Ri was earlier reported to have been carrying.[32][33]

From 2012 to 2014, Ri appeared occasionally in the North Korean media, accompanying her husband to events, but subsequently, she was rarely seen.[34] She had long periods out of the public view in 2015,[35] 2016,[36][37] and 2017.[38]

In 2018, Ri took on a diplomatic role. In March 2018, she visited China with her husband, meeting China's paramount leader Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan.[39][not specific enough to verify][40] In April 2018, ahead of the April 2018 inter-Korean summit, Ri's title was elevated to "Respected First Lady" (instead of just "Comrade"), the first time since 1974 the title had been used in North Korea; the previous bearer was Kim Il Sung's second wife, Kim Song-ae. The change in title was made public in a news report read by star anchorwoman, Ri Chun-hee, who often makes major announcements.[6] Ri attended the summit, the first wife of a North Korean leader to do so, and met the First Lady of South Korea, Kim Jung-sook, for the first time.[41] The two first ladies were observed as being close to each other during their meetings that year.[42] In May, she met with US diplomats and helped ease tensions.[43] She also helped host the visit of China's paramount leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in June 2019.[44]


See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Ri Sol Ju: What We Know About Kim Jong Un's Wife". Wall Street Journal (in Korean). February 17, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "First lady publicity latest sign of N.K. change". The Korea Herald. July 26, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "N. Korean leader's wife visited S. Korea in 2005: spy agency". Yonhap News Agency. July 26, 2012. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e Joohee Cho (July 26, 2012). "North Korea's First Lady Was Cheerleader, Ditches Drab Outfits". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e Choe, Sang-hun (July 26, 2012). "That Mystery Woman in North Korea? Turns Out She's First Lady". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Kim Jong-un elevates wife to position of North Korea's first lady". The Guardian. Seoul. Agence France-Presse. April 19, 2018. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  7. ^ "North Korea's secretive 'first family'". BBC News. February 15, 2007. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  8. ^ "Ri Sol-ju: pass notes No 3,273". The Guardian. October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  9. ^ "Ri Sol-ju had 'past'". The Korea Times. February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d Thayer, Nate (July 26, 2012). "North Korea IDs Mystery Woman as Kim Jong-Un's Wife – But Who Is She, Really?". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  11. ^ a b c Kwon, K. J.; Lai, Alexis (July 26, 2012). "Kim Jong Un married in 2009, according to intelligence service". CNN. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  12. ^ O'Connor, Tom (September 27, 2017). "Meet Ri Sol Ju, wife of Kim Jong Un and first lady of North Korea". Newsweek. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  13. ^ Martin, Simon (July 28, 2012). "North Korea's 'first lady' debut highlights secrecy". RNW Media. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  14. ^ Kiyohito Kokita (September 7, 2012). "Kim Jong Un's wife shined before marriage as a singer". Asahi Shimbun Weekly.
  15. ^ "Kim Jong-un picked out his wife Ri Sol-ju as she sang during a concert performance". The Australian. July 26, 2012. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  16. ^ "N.Korea Squanders Millions on Kim Family Cult". Chosun Ibo. October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  17. ^ Taylor, Adam (September 21, 2012). "Kim Jong-un Is Trying To Erase His Wife's Popstar Past". Business Weekly. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Ju-min Park (July 25, 2012). "North Korea leader's wife can teach him about the enemy". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  19. ^ a b c "North Korea leader Kim Jong-un married to Ri Sol-ju". BBC News. July 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  20. ^ a b c d "Keeping up with the Kims: North Korea's elusive first family". BBC News. August 29, 2017. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  21. ^ O'Connor, Tom (December 30, 2017). "Who are Kim Jong Un's children and does North Korea have an heir?". Newsweek. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  22. ^ Boehler, Patrick (December 17, 2012). "Another Lil' Kim? Wife of North Korea's Kim Jong Un Appears 'Heavily Pregnant'". Time. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  23. ^ Nelson, Sara C. (October 30, 2012). "North Korea, Kim Jong Un And Wife Ri Sol Ju Mark 60th Anniversary of Kim II Sung Military University in Pyongyang". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  24. ^ "Images suggest North Korea leader's wife pregnant". South China Morning Post. December 17, 2012. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  25. ^ Walker, Peter (September 9, 2013). "Dennis Rodman gives away name of Kim Jong-un's daughter". the Guardian. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015.
  26. ^ "Kim Jong Un's daughter seen for first time — at a missile launch site". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  27. ^ Lewis, Leo (July 25, 2012). "Mystery woman Ri Sol-ju revealed as Kim Jong-un's bride". The Australian. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  28. ^ "Kim Jong-Un married to mystery woman Ri Sol-Ju". July 26, 2012. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  29. ^ Sang-hun Choe (July 25, 2012). "North Korean Leader Marries". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  30. ^ Hancocks, Paula (September 19, 2012). "Kim Jong Il's sushi chef returns after fleeing for life". CNN. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  31. ^ a b Moss, Hilary (September 19, 2012). "Confirmed: When Ri Sol-ju Speaks, It Sounds Like Raindrops on Roses". The Cut. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  32. ^ Lee, Jeff (August 9, 2012). "Ri Sol-ju, first lady of impoverished North Korea, shows off luxury Dior handbag". China Buzz. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  33. ^ "Ri Sol-Ju Bag: Lady Dior Clutch Debate Strikes North Korea". LALate. August 9, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  34. ^ Emma Prestwich (November 1, 2016). "Ri Sol-Ju, Kim Jong-Un's Wife, Hasn't Been Spotted In Public In 7 Months". Huffington Post Canada. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  35. ^ "North Korea's first lady Ri Sol Ju seen for first time this year". CNN. May 3, 2015. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  36. ^ Mortimer, Caroline (October 31, 2016). "North Korea: Fears for Kim Jong-un's wife Ri Sol-ju after she disappears from public for seven months". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  37. ^ "N. Korean leader, wife make appearance at air combat competition". Yonhap News Agency. December 4, 2016. Archived from the original on December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  38. ^ Robbins, Josh (July 11, 2017). "Kim Jong-un's wife seen for the first time in four months ending growing speculation". IB Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  39. ^ China Central Television channel 13, in Shenyang
  40. ^ Steven Lee Myers (March 27, 2018). "Kim Jong-un Met With Xi Jinping in Secret Beijing Visit". New York Times. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  41. ^ Choi Ha-young (April 1, 2018). "First ladies of two Koreas meet for first time". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  42. ^ "Inter-Korea summit: First ladies to bond over shared love of music". Straits Times. September 18, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  43. ^ Shim, Elizabeth (September 14, 2020). "North Korea musician Hyon Song Wol more visible amid typhoon, pandemic". UPI.
  44. ^ "North Korea rolls out red carpet for Xi Jinping – in pictures". The Guardian. June 21, 2019. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  • Media related to Ri Sol-ju at Wikimedia Commons
Honorary titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Kim Song-ae 		First Lady of North Korea
2018–present 		Incumbent
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