First Lady of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ri Sol-ju (Korean: 리설주; born; 28 September 1989)[1] is a former North Korean singer and cheerleader and the current first lady of North Korea as the wife of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
Respected First Lady Ri Sol-ju | |
|---|---|
리설주 | |
.png) Ri at the April 2018 inter-Korean summit | |
| First Lady of North Korea | |
| Assumed role 15 April 2018 | |
| Supreme Leader | Kim Jong-un |
| Preceded by | Kim Song-ae |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 September 1989 North Korea |
| Nationality | North Korean |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 (alleged) |
| Relatives | Kim family |
| Alma mater | Kim Il-sung University (PhD) |
| Korean name | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | |
| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Ri Seol-ju |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ri Sŏlju |
Not much information is known about her origins; some analysts have said her name is almost certainly a pseudonym. Reportedly she was born in 28 September 1989. Her family is reportedly of the political elite; her mother is said to be the head of a gynecology ward and her father is a professor.[2][1][3]
She is also said to be related to Ri Pyong-chol, a former anti-air force general of the Korean People's Army and a close advisor to Kim Jong-un. It is said that North Korean officials are trying to erase her past as a singer by removing popular bootleg CDs of her performances.[4] Ri is reportedly a graduate student from Kim Il-sung University, pursing a PhD in science.
Ri reportedly visited South Korea in 2005, as a member of a North Korean cheerleading team during the Asian Athletic Championships.[5]
Kim Jong-il had quickly arranged and ordered Ri Sol-ju to get married to his son, Kim Jong-un after suffering a stroke in 2008.[6] They both got married in 2009, although the marriage date is unknown.
She possibly gave birth to a boy in 2010.[7] In December 2012, it was said that Ri was visibly pregnant, although North Korean officials did not confirm anything.[8]
In 2013, American basketball player, Dennis Rodman had visited North Korea to meet Kim and told The Guardian in September 2013 that she had gave birth to a girl named “Kim Ju-ae”.[9] South Korean intelligence officials claim she had gave birth to a third child in 2017 although the gender remains unknown.
.jpg)
In July 2012, North Korean officials had said that she was Kim's wife, “Comrade Ri Sol-ju” after people thought she was not Kim's wife.[10] From 2012 through 2014, she appeared in the North Korean media, with her husband to events. She had spent much time out the public eye for three years.[11]
In 2018, Ri took on a diplomatic role and in March 2018 , she had visited China with her husband meeting Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan.[12] Ri was said to have made back to back summits and meetings with her husband to China five times, and in April 2018, ahead of the 2018 inter-Korean summit.[13]
She had also met the first lady of South Korea, Kim Jung-sook for the first time. The two first ladies were seen being very close and it said they became friends.[14]
South China Morning Post briefly stated that Ri's fashion became an instant hit after she accompanied her husband to a surprise visit to China in March 2018.
During the visitation summit to China, it was said she wore a camel cropped jacket with a matching midi skirt and court shoes with a necklace, ear studs, and a shiny pink and gold butterfly-shaped brooch.
Ri also wore a white jacket and an apple green dress with a brown flower-shaped ribbon brooch and a nude leather clutch and at a lunch with Xi and Peng at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where her and husband stayed, she changed into an ivory two-piece dress with floral decorations on the collar and soft frilled sleeves. [15]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.