Ri Sol-ju

Ri Sol-ju (Korean: 리설주; born; 28 September 1989) 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.

Biography

 Early life 
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. 

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. 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.

 Marriage and family 
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. They both got married in 2009, although the marriage date is unknown. 

She possibly gave birth to a boy in 2010. In December 2012, it was said that Ri was visibly pregnant, although North Korean officials did not confirm anything.

In 2013, American basketball player, Dennis Rodman had visited North Korea to meet Kim and told The Guardian in September 2013 that she had given birth to a girl named “Kim Ju-ae”."Dennis Rodman's slip gives away name of North Korean leader's baby" , The Guardian. South Korean intelligence officials claim she had given birth to a third child in 2017 although the gender remains unknown.

 First Lady of North Korea 

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. 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.

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. 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. 

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.

 Fashion Influence 
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. 

References

Category:1980s births
Category:Living people
Category:Singers
Category:First Ladies of North Korea
Category:Kim Jong-un