N. Korean leader's wife back in public
Source: Agencies |
October 31, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NORTH Korea reported public appearances by the wife of leader Kim Jong-un for the first time in two months yesterday amid mounting speculation that she had been chastised for inappropriate conduct or that she may be pregnant.
Ri Sol-ju's once frequent appearances with her husband in public reported in state media had marked the starkest break from the image of Kim's father Kim Jong-il, who was rarely seen in public with any of his wives.
Ri attended football match and a musical concert with Kim Jong-un on Monday. Their appearance at the concert "drew a thunderous cheer from the audience," the official KCNA news agency said yesterday.
Kim Jong-il, who died last December, suffered a stroke in 2008 which was followed by a disappearance from media until re-emerging in early 2009.
Monday's events in Pyongyang and his visit to a military college were also the first public appearance by the young new leader Kim Jong-un himself in about two weeks. He looked healthy and confident in photos accompanying reports over four pages in the yesterday's edition of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper.
South Korea's intelligence agency has joined the fray of speculation over the sudden disappearance of Ri from state media since early September saying state elders may have raised an issue over her casual and cheerful demeanor portrayed in media.
"The analysis has been that there was concern over breach of discipline (by Ri) among North Korean elders, plus the speculation of pregnancy," South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper quoted the National Intelligence Service as reporting to parliament.
North Korea's media have not disclosed when the young Kim and Ri got married or whether they have any children.
Ri Sol-ju's once frequent appearances with her husband in public reported in state media had marked the starkest break from the image of Kim's father Kim Jong-il, who was rarely seen in public with any of his wives.
Ri attended football match and a musical concert with Kim Jong-un on Monday. Their appearance at the concert "drew a thunderous cheer from the audience," the official KCNA news agency said yesterday.
Kim Jong-il, who died last December, suffered a stroke in 2008 which was followed by a disappearance from media until re-emerging in early 2009.
Monday's events in Pyongyang and his visit to a military college were also the first public appearance by the young new leader Kim Jong-un himself in about two weeks. He looked healthy and confident in photos accompanying reports over four pages in the yesterday's edition of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper.
South Korea's intelligence agency has joined the fray of speculation over the sudden disappearance of Ri from state media since early September saying state elders may have raised an issue over her casual and cheerful demeanor portrayed in media.
"The analysis has been that there was concern over breach of discipline (by Ri) among North Korean elders, plus the speculation of pregnancy," South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper quoted the National Intelligence Service as reporting to parliament.
North Korea's media have not disclosed when the young Kim and Ri got married or whether they have any children.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
