SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean chief Kim Jong Un’s spouse, Ri Sol Ju, appeared in state media for the first time in almost 5 months on Wednesday, because the ruling household has maintained a low profile through the coronavirus pandemic.
Kim and Ri attended an artwork efficiency on the Mansudae Art Theatre within the capital Pyongyang celebrating the Lunar New Year vacation, the official KCNA information company stated.
She was final seen publicly on Sept. 9 ,when she joined her husband in visiting the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, which homes the embalmed our bodies of Kim’s late grandfather and father, on the anniversary of the nation’s founding.
“When (Kim) appeared on the auditorium of the theatre together with his spouse, Ri Sol Ju, amid the enjoying of the welcome music, the viewers raised stormy cheers of ‘Hurrah!'” KCNA stated, including the couple took the stage after the present to shake palms and take a photograph with the artists.
Ri had as soon as garnered worldwide consideration as she typically accompanied Kim on social, enterprise and even navy outings, in a stark break from his father, Kim Jong Il, who was hardly ever seen in public with any of his wives.
She had disappeared from state media for greater than a yr earlier than being seen attending a live performance final February, fuelling hypothesis over her well being and potential being pregnant.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service informed lawmakers that she apparently shunned exterior actions to forestall COVID-19 infections however was “enjoying nicely with their children.”
The spy company believes Kim and Ri have three youngsters, however little is publicly recognized about them.
North Korea has not confirmed any COVID-19 outbreaks, however closed its borders and brought strict curbs together with journey restrictions.
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
