Inside the mysterious life of Ri Sol-ju, Kim Jong Un's wife who probably has 3 children and frequently disappears from the public eye
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Sep 27, 2017, 03:24 IST
One North Korean defector-turned-researcher, Ahn Chan-il, told South Korean news network YTN that there was "pressure to quickly give birth to a son, because the regime is not so sturdy."
South Korean media has speculated that Ri may have been pressured to have a third child in the hopes that it would be a boy who could inherit Kim's dictatorship, assuming both of the couple's previous children were girls.
"I held their baby Ju-ae and spoke with Ms. Ri as well. [Kim's] a good dad and has a beautiful family," Rodman told The Guardian. Those details have not been independently corroborated.
It's believed that Ri and Kim now have three children, though the most detailed information comes from former NBA star Dennis Rodman, well known for his controversial friendship with Kim and frequent trips to North Korea. Rodman said he met the couple's second child in 2013, a baby girl named Ju-ae.
Earlier this year, Ri disappeared from public view for several months, prompting speculation over her well-being. In August, South Korean intelligence reported that she had given birth to a child and dropped out of the public eye because she was pregnant.
Her penchant for luxury goods has attracted international criticism. North Korean civilians have struggled for years under famine, drought, and widespread poverty.
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Ri is known for her taste in western fashion — she has been spotted carrying expensive bags by designers like Dior and Chanel.
Little is known about the life Ri led before marrying Kim, but South Korean intelligence reports have said she once studied singing in China, and visited South Korea in 2005 as a member of North Korea's cheerleading squad.
The secrecy around their wedding was no surprise to North Koreans and international observers of the Hermit Kingdom. Kim's father never introduced his multiple wives to the public at all.
It's unclear exactly when Kim and Ri got married. Some have reported the wedding was in 2009 and Ri gave birth to a child the next year, while others have said that the couple didn't meet until a classical music concert in 2010.
"While a welcoming song was resonating," state television reported, "Marshal Kim Jong Un appeared at the ceremony site, with his wife, Comrade Ri Sol-ju."
Ri's eventual public introduction was underwhelming, to say the least. North Korean media mentioned her almost as an afterthought during coverage of an amusement park opening in Pyongyang.
An international media frenzy had been mounting for weeks over the "mystery woman" spotted with Kim at a a series of public events, including a theater performance featuring Disney characters, and a tribute to Kim's grandfather on the anniversary of his death.
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