The wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made her first public appearance in a little over a year, the official North Korean media reported today, ending an absence attributed by some to the coronavirus and others to a possible pregnancy.
Ri Sol Yu, who is said to be about 30 years old, accompanied her husband to a concert on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the father and predecessor of the latter, Kim Jong Il.
The anniversary of the birth of the second of the Kim dynasty is known as the "day of the shining star". This is one of the most important holidays in the North Korean calendar.
The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published photos of the couple smiling and applauding the artists of the Mansudae Theater in Pyongyang. "When the secretary-general entered the room with his wife Ri Sol Yoo to the sound of a music reception, all participants cheered and cheered," the official KCNA news agency reported.
In the published photos, none of the spectators is wearing a mask.
Ri Sol Yu had been appearing in public since January 2020, at an event related to the Lunar New Year.
Her absence had sparked numerous speculations about her state of health. Some wondered if she was isolated to protect herself from the coronavirus or if she was pregnant. The couple reportedly has three children.
North Korea closed its border early last year to protect itself from a pandemic in neighboring China. Kim has claimed that his country has not been affected by the coronavirus, something that foreign experts doubt.
The photos were released the day after a briefing by South Korean lawmakers from Seoul's intelligence services, who claimed that the North Korean leader's wife did not attend public events due to the pandemic and spent her time playing with her children.
She used to appear regularly at her husband's side during his visits or during diplomatic meetings, especially those with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
A formerly successful singer, Ri Sol Yoo appeared in large audiences within Kim's circle in 2012. Together with her husband's sister, Kim Yo Yong, she is one of the most prominent women of this patriarchal regime.
Source: RES-EAP