Kim Jong Un’s wife appears in recent diplomatic events

Kim Jong Un’s wife appears in recent diplomatic events. April. 04, 2018 08:13. weappon@donga.com,sya@donga.com.
Ri Sol Ju, the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reportedly called Kim her “husband” during a welcome dinner for the South Korean president’s special envoys, including National Security Office Chief Chung Eui-yong, on March 5.

“Ri Sol Ju called Kim Jong Un ‘my husband’ while exchanging greetings with the South Korean special envoys,” a diplomatic source said Tuesday. The Asahi Shimbun of Japan also reported the same story by quoting a North Korean source. In North Korea, Kim Jong Un should be called “supreme leader.”

Some say the fact that Ri Sol Ju has been making appearances in recent diplomatic events is the North’s move to put emphasis on its normalization. Kim Jong Un was accompanied by Ri in recent events, including a dinner with the special envoys from South Korea, dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the joint South-North Korea performance.

Now eyes are on whether Ri Sol Ju will make another appearance at the inter-Korean summit slated for April 27. “Whether first ladies of the two Koreas will be attending the summit is likely to be discussed at the working-level talks on April 4,” a South Korean government official said.