The public perception is that almost every bit of information that emanates from North Korea regarding its government is either half-truth or completely untrue. The rest is shrouded in secrecy. The same can be said of all the information available on the North Korean leader’s wife, Ri Sol-Ju.
For a long time, many sources outside of North Korea tried to get information about the mysterious first woman. In fact, much of the information available comes from foreign media and not from official North Korean sources.
The only time Ri Sol-Ju has been seen in public is next to her husband. It is unclear whether she plays a direct or indirect role in Kim Jong-Un’s administration.
Biography of Ri Sol-Ju
Information about the supreme leader’s wife has been successfully concealed since her relationship with the administration became public. There is almost nothing verifiable in her life before her marriage to Kim Jong-Un.
Even Ri’s age is uncertain, as his date of birth is said to have been between 1985 and 1989. His father is said to be a teacher and his mother is the head of a gynecology department. She reportedly attended Geumsung 2 College in Pyongyang, after which she moved to China where she majored in vocal music. The first lady is also said to have ties to a close adviser to her husband, a former air force general, Ri Pyong-Chol.
At one point, she was misidentified as the singer of the North Korean musical group, Unhasu Orchestra. Commentators said North Korean officials were making every effort to erase all traces of Sol-Ju’s past as an artist by confiscating all possible recordings of his performances. Ri is also said to have pursued doctoral studies. in science at Kim Il-Sung University.
Other reports from her past reveal that she was also a cheerleader in 2005 and was part of the cheerleading squad for the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea in the same year.
Even though Sol-Ju and Kim Jong-Un might have married a few years ago, Sol-Ju made her first public appearance in 2012. She stood next to Kim Jong-Un. This caused speculation among the media and the population about his identity. South Korean intelligence officials misidentified her as North Korean singer Hyon Song-Wol, a former member of the popular North Korean singing group Electronic Ensemble. In July 2012, North Korean state media released a statement officially identifying the mystery woman as Comrade Ri Sol-Ju, the wife of North Korea’s leader.
During the same month, Sol-Ju received a few mute messages critical of the way she appeared in public. She wore a tight black Chanel-inspired suit to an elite gala concert. This was considered unconventional and against the traditional dress code of a North Korean woman.
As for Ri’s personality, the best information available comes from Kenji Fujimoto, the former personal sushi chef of former North Korean chef Kim Jong-Il. Fujimoto describes her as very sweet and charming. He would have offered her a Christian Dior handbag.
Facts About Kim Jong-Un’s Wife
1. She disappeared from public view after 2014
Until 2014, Ri Sol-Ju held office and appeared alongside her husband at galas, conferences and other public events, all of which were captured by North Korean media. However, as of 2015, she sometimes went for long periods without being seen. This trend continued in 2016 and 2017. It was re-watched on video on March 28, 2018. Apparently, she accompanied her husband to China, where they met Chinese President Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.
2. Her official title has been changed to reflect her growing status
About a month after the first couple visited China, Sol-Ju’s title was changed from “comrade” to “respected first lady.” It’s unclear what caused the change, but what we do know is that it was good for his image. The title had not been used since 1974, when it was given to Kim Song-ae, second wife of former North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung.
3. Ri Sol-Ju has an elegant sense of style
Her first outing as a “Respected First Lady” was on April 27, 2018, when she and her husband attended the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-In and his wife, Kim Jung-Sook.
Her outfit of the day was also heralded by many media sources, both domestic and foreign, with many calling her a style icon for North Korea. She wore a vintage-style pale coral dress and a matching jacket reminiscent of Jacqueline Kennedy in the 60s.
4. Ri Sol-Ju may not be his real name
Such is the doubt and uncertainty overinformation about the first lady; some analysts believe his name is a pseudonym. Other speculations from different sources continue to emerge, none of these channels have been corroborated by any official North Korean channel.
5. She is rumored to have three children with Kim Jong-Un
There are rumors that Ri Sol-Ju gave birth to three children, all of whom came between 2010 and 2017. The first speculation was of a son born in 2010. In December 2012, rumors spread that the first lady was seen in public and that she was heavily pregnant.
Although North Korean authorities kept it a secret, the situation was made all the more believable when ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman visited the first family in March 2013. Upon his return, he left fall to the British tabloid. The sun that Sol-Ju had given birth to a healthy daughter. The former basketball player confirmed in an interview with The Guardian, where he said the child’s name is Ju-ae. He went on to say that the North Korean leader was a good father and had a nice family.
In February 2017, South Korean intelligence sources again reported that the North Korean first lady had given birth to her third child. They admitted that the sex of the child is unknown.