▲ This image, published by the Korean Central News Agency on June 26, 2025, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) standing next to his daughter, known as Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, during a completion ceremony for the eastern coastal Kalma beach resort on June 24, 2025. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
▲ This image, published by the Korean Central News Agency on June 26, 2025, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) sitting next to his daughter, known as Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, during a completion ceremony for the eastern coastal Kalma beach resort on June 24, 2025. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

NK leader-wife

N.K. leader's wife makes 1st public appearance in 1 1/2 yrs, with Gucci handbag

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's wife, Ri Sol-ju, was seen in photos Thursday accompanying him to a recent completion ceremony for the eastern coastal Kalma beach resort, marking her first public appearance in about 1 1/2 years.

Photos published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Ri standing or sitting next to Kim and their daughter, known as Ju-ae, during Tuesday's ceremony, wearing a white shirt, baggy black slacks and carrying what appears to be a Gucci handbag.

Since her last media appearance at a New Year's arts performance on Jan. 1, 2024, Ri had remained absent from North Korean state media, with Ju-ae having since taken her place next to Kim during key public events.

Since Kim took power in late 2011, Ri had frequently been seen in North Korean media accompanying him to various events, a notable contrast to the wives of the two previous North Korean leaders, who mostly remained behind the scenes.

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, suggested that Ri may have limited her public appearances to shift the spotlight to Ju-ae, a likely successor to Kim.

Photos showed Ri standing or seated a few steps behind Kim and Ju-ae. Her attire also contrasted with Ju-ae's more formal white ensemble.

An official at South Korea's unification ministry assessed the North may be attempting to place the spotlight on Ju-ae by considerably limiting Ri's media presence. The official added no specific signs indicating any change in Ri's personal status have been detected.

Ri was carrying what appears to be a handbag from the Italian luxury fashion house Gucci, listed at US$2,850 on its official website.

The export of luxury goods to North Korea is prohibited under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

North Korea reportedly uses diplomatic pouches, which generally receive exemptions from customs duties and inspection requirements, to bring in luxury items distributed as gifts to the Kim family.

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