A girl can't say no if the Dear Leader wants a wife: Kim Jong-un marries mystery woman spotted at his side
- Named by state broadcaster as Ri Sol-ju
- The naming of his wife silenced the rumours that his mystery woman was a married pop-star with whom he reportedly had an affair
- His wife is also a performer, it is alleged, with YouTube videos where the woman pictured with the leader performs
July 25, 2012
America has the Obamas happily puckering up for the kiss cam at a baseball match.And North Korea – well, North Korea has the announcement that its leader has a wife.
The country’s official state broadcaster made the revelation after weeks of speculation over the identity of a woman who has been seen accompanying Kim Jong-un at recent engagements.
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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and his wife, named as Ri Sol-ju, visit the Rungna People's Pleasure Ground in Pyongyang in these undated pictures |
By the notoriously secretive standards of the communist state, it’s practically a Hello magazine world exclusive.
The announcement is the first insight the world has had into the private life of Kim, 28.
State television said Miss Ri took part in a ceremony marking the completion of a Pyongyang amusement park.
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| A smiling leader and his wife at the amusement park. It has not been confirmed how long the couple have been married |
North Korean watchers in South Korea had previously said the woman might be Hyon Song-wol, a former singer with the Bochonbo Electronic Music Band.
Intelligence agencies had suggested Kim and the pop singer first became romantically involved ten years ago, after he returned home from his studies at a private academy in Switzerland.
It was claimed that Kim’s late father, Kim Jong-il, had ordered him to end the relationship, and she ended up marrying an officer in the North Korean army instead.
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| Kim Jong-un visit the Rungna People's Pleasure Ground, which is nearing completion. It is the latest move in the young leaders bid to be more like his grandfather rather than his father Kim Jong-il |
Other educated guesses suggested the mystery woman might be a younger sister.
South Korea’s unification ministry said yesterday that it appeared Miss Ri was the woman who had been pictured several times at Kim’s side at public events in recent weeks.Photos aired by state television recently showed her standing beside Kim during a visit to a kindergarten, smiling as he hugged and talked to children.
Kim, the world’s youngest head of state, became leader last December following the death of his father.
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| Married: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with Ri Sol-ju, the woman state media have confirmed is his wife |
