End of mystery: Kim’s wife reappeared after a year

SEOUL.- North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s wife Ri Sol-Ju has appeared in state media for the first time in over a year, to accompany her husband to a concert at one of the most important festivals in the country.

The state-run daily Rodong Sinmun today posted photos of the couple at the event to mark the birthday of Kim’s late father and former leader Kim Jong Il.

Ri, who often accompanied Kim to important public events, had not been seen since January of last year. when she was pictured at an event for the Lunar New Year holiday, which fueled the speculation about her health and possible pregnancy.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) told lawmakers on Tuesday that Ri appeared to have refrained from outside activities to reduce the risk of coronavirus, but “was playing nicely with his children.”

The NIS believes Ri and Kim have three children, but little is known about them.

North Korea has not confirmed any cases of Covid-19, but the NIS said an outbreak could not be ruled out due to the country’s close ties with China, where the virus first emerged. Pyongyang closed its border early last year.

Ri and Kim smiled as they watched the concert at the Mansudae Art Theater in the capital city of Pyongyang, surrounded by elderly people. Unlike several previous events, no one in the photos was wearing a mask and no social distancing measure appears to be in effect.

The ruling Labor Party daily also reported that Kim had gone to Kumsusan Sun Palace, which houses the embalmed bodies of her father and grandfather, to lay wreaths for the anniversary called Bright Star Day.

Ri has been seen with Kim on several occasions, such as on a trip to China, where they had lunch with President Xi Jinping, or in the famous photos of the chef on horseback with a snowy landscape in the background.

Reuters Agency

THE NATION

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