Ri Sol-ju
Ri Sol-ju | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1985–1988 (age 36-39) North Korea |
| Alma mater | Geumsung 2 Middle School (?) Kim Il-sung University (?) |
| Occupation | Singer in the Unhasu Orchestra (?) |
| Spouse | Kim Jong-un |
| Children | Child born 2010 (?) |
| Ri Sol-ju | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | |
|---|---|
| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Ri Seol-ju |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ri Sŏlju |
Ri Sol-ju (Korean: 리설주, 李雪主[1] or 李雪珠,[2] born January 1985–1988[3][4]) is the wife of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.[5] North Korean state media has officially identified her as "his wife, Comrade Ri Sol Ju".[6]
Biography
North Korea is secretive about its first family.[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]
Known
In 2012, Ri made several public appearances standing next to the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, causing speculation about who she might be. South Korean intelligence officials tentatively identified her as Hyon Song-wol, a former singer for the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble, a musical group popular in North Korea.[9][10] However, on 25 July 2012, North Korean state media announced that she was actually Kim's wife, saying she was "his wife, Comrade Ri Sol Ju".[11][12]
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 who normally dressed conservatively in billowing dresses or Mao-style work clothes.[5][13] 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]
Kenji Fujimoto, Kim Jong-il's personal sushi chef, 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 ...."[14][15] As a parting gift, Ri gave Fujimoto a Christian Dior hand bag,[15] which Ri was earlier reported to have.[16][17]
Reported
Very little is known for certain about Ri; some analysts have even said her name "almost certainly is a pseudonym".[6] Various security analysts, politicians, media and others have made public claims about her that have not been officially confirmed in North Korean media.[18][19]
Ri's reported year of birth has ranged between 1985 and 1989 among various sources.[3][4][6] Ri's family is reportedly from the political elite, her mother is head of a gynecology unit at a local hospital and her father is a university professor.[6][20] She is said to have graduated from Geumsung 2 Middle School in Pyongyang and studied abroad in China majoring in vocal music.[4] JoongAng Ilbo and some commentators have identified Ri Sol-ju as a singer in the Unhasu Orchestra that has made several overseas performances.[18][20][21][22] Reportedly, North Korean officials are "trying to erase her past as a singer and entertainer by confiscating popular bootleg CDs of her performances",[23] such as her singing the song "Sobaeksu".[24] She is reportedly a graduate student at Kim Il-sung University, pursuing a Ph.D. in science.[6]
She reportedly visited South Korea, in 2005, as a member of the North Korean cheerleading team during the Asian Athletics Championships.[4][20][25] 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."[25]
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 married in 2009 and Ri gave birth to a child in 2010.[11]
In October 2012, there was speculation about her public disappearance, whether a "breach of discipline" or "pregnancy".[26][27] However, Ri reappeared with her spouse at a military college.[26][27] In the 30 October 2012 edition of The Chosun Ilbo, the reason stated for Ri's disappearance was "because senior apparatchiks are worried that her westernized ways could corrupt public morals."[23] In the 31 October 2012 edition of The Chosun Ilbo, there was speculation that Ri is pregnant.[28] Analysts, as reported in the 30 October 2012 edition of the Daily Mail, suggest Ri "has been kept at home as a disciplinary measure because she had been seen in public not displaying a red lapel pin bearing the image, or images, of the two previous leaders."[29] In December 2012, several news sources reported that Ri is visibly pregnant.[19][30][31][32]
References
- ^ 绫罗人民游园地竣工 金正恩出席, 조선중앙통신 중국어판
- ^ "北김정은 옆 그녀들, 전부다 부인 '리설주'?". 머니투데이. 2012-07-26. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
- ^ a b "(LEAD) N. Korean leader's wife visited S. Korea in 2005: spy agency". Yonhap News. 2012-07-26. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Joohee Cho (July 26, 2012). "North Korea's First Lady Was Cheerleader, Ditches Drab Outfits". ABC News. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
- ^ a b c SANG-HUN, CHOE (July 26, 2012). "That Mystery Woman in North Korea? Turns Out She's First Lady". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
- ^ a b c d e Nate Thayer (July 26, 2012). "North Korea IDs Mystery Woman as Kim Jong-Un's Wife—But Who Is She, Really?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
- ^ Staff writer (15 February 2007). "North Korea's secretive 'first family'". BBC News. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ "Ri Sol-ju: pass notes No 3,273". Guardian Newspaper. 30 October 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Lewis, Leo (2012-07-25). "Mystery woman Ri Sol-ju revealed as Kim Jong-un's bride". The Australian. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "Kim Jong-Un married to mystery woman Ri Sol-Ju". 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ^ a b "North Korea leader Kim Jong-un married to Ri Sol-ju". BBC News. 25 July 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Choe, Sang-hun (2012-07-25). "North Korean Leader Marries". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Brady, Tara (21 February 2013) In true North Korean fashion, women are 'encouraged' to choose from 18 officially sanctioned hairstyles The Daily Mail, Retrieved 2 March 2013
- ^ Hancocks, Paula (September 19, 2012 -- Updated 1026 GMT (1826 HKT)). "Kim Jong Il's sushi chef returns after fleeing for life". CNN. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Moss, Hilary (September 19, 2012 at 6:25 PM). "Confirmed: When Ri Sol-ju Speaks, It Sounds Like Raindrops on Roses". The Cut, a fashion magazine. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Lee, Jeff (August 9, 2012). "Ri Sol-ju, first lady of impoverished North Korea, shows off luxury Dior handbag". China Buzz, focused on the latest hot topics widely circulated on Chinese Language Internet. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
- ^ "Ri Sol-Ju Bag: Lady Dior Clutch Debate Strikes North Korea". LALate. August 9, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
- ^ a b Simon Martin (July 28, 2012). "North Korea's 'first lady' debut highlights secrecy". AFP. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- ^ a b Ryall, Julian (December 17, 2012 at 6:42AM GMT). "North Korea: could Kim Jong-un's wife be pregnant?". The Telegraph newspaper. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ a b c Kwon, KJ (updated July 26, 2012). "Kim Jong Un married in 2009, according to intelligence service". CNN. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ KIYOHITO KOKITA, KIYOHITO KOKITA (September 7, 2012). "Kim Jong Un's wife shined before marriage as a singer". Asahi Shimbun Weekly. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ "Kim Jong-un picked out his wife Ri Sol-ju as she sang during a concert performance". The Austrailian. July 26, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^ a b "N.Korea Squanders Millions on Kim Family Cult". Chosun Ibo. October 30, 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Adam (September 21, 2012 at 9:10 AM). "Kim Jong-un Is Trying To Erase His Wife's Popstar Past". Business Weekly. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ a b Ju-min Park (July 25, 2012). "North Korea leader's wife can teach him about the enemy". Reuters. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ a b "Kim Jong-un's wife reappears after two-month absence". The Telegraph. October 30, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
- ^ a b Kim, Jack and Macfie, Nick (October 29, 2012). "North Korea leader's wife reported back in public after long silence". Reuters. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Kim Jong-un's Wife 'Pregnant'". Chosun Ibo. October 31, 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ Shears, Richard (30 October 2012). "North Korean leader's wife makes first public appearance in two months after 'home detention'". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ^ Boehler, Patrick (17 December 2012). "Another Lil' Kim? Wife of North Korea's Kim Jong Un Appears 'Heavily Pregnant'". Time magazine. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ Nelson, Sara C. (Posted: 30/10/2012 14:58 GMT Updated: 30/10/2012 17:07 GMT). "North Korea, Kim Jong Un And Wife Ri Sol Ju Mark 60th Anniversary Of Kim II Sung Military University In Pyongyang". Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ "Images suggest North Korea leader's wife pregnant". South China Morning Post. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
