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North Korean leader's wife rejoins public life North Korean leader's wife rejoins public life
(about 1 hour later)
North Korean state media reported the wife of leader Kim Jong-un had made public appearances for the first time in two months, amid speculation that she had been chastised for inappropriate conduct or that she may be pregnant. North Korean state media reported that the wife of Kim Jong-un had made public appearances for the first time in two months, amid 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 marked the starkest break by the North's leadership from the dour image of Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, who was rarely seen in public with any of his wives.Ri Sol-ju's once frequent appearances with her husband in public marked the starkest break by the North's leadership from the dour image of Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, who was rarely seen in public with any of his wives.
Ri attended a football match and a 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 on Tuesday.Ri attended a football match and a 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 on Tuesday.
Activities and public appearances in choreographed media reports give rare indications of events inside the reclusive state, which is locked in a standoff with its neighbours and the west over its nuclear weapons programme.Activities and public appearances in choreographed media reports give rare indications of events inside the reclusive state, which is locked in a standoff with its neighbours and the west over its nuclear weapons programme.
Kim Jong-il, who died in December, had suffered a stroke in 2008 which was followed by a sudden disappearance from public engagements until re-emerging in early 2009 appearing gaunt and ill. Monday's events in Pyongyang and Kim's visit to a military college were also his first public appearances in about two weeks. He looked healthy and confident in photos accompanying reports over four pages in Tuesday's edition of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper.
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 Tuesday's edition of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper.
South Korea's intelligence agency had joined the battery of speculation over the sudden disappearance of Ri since early September, saying state elders may have raised an issue over her casual and cheerful demeanour.South Korea's intelligence agency had joined the battery of speculation over the sudden disappearance of Ri since early September, saying state elders may have raised an issue over her casual and cheerful demeanour.
"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 in a closed-door briefing to parliament. "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 in a closed-door briefing to parliament.
North Korea broke the mystery surrounding a young woman who had been seen with Kim in July by saying she was the leader's wife. The announcement itself was part of a trend that Kim has followed to break out of the secretive management style of his father.North Korea broke the mystery surrounding a young woman who had been seen with Kim in July by saying she was the leader's wife. The announcement itself was part of a trend that Kim has followed to break out of the secretive management style of his father.
North Korea's state media have not disclosed when the two got married or whether they had any children.North Korea's state media have not disclosed when the two got married or whether they had any children.