Few details are known about Ri Sol-ju, the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Little is known about Ri Sol-ju. South Korean reports say she is 28-32 and has three children. She was first officially identified as Kim’s wife in July 2012, when she was introduced during the opening of a Pyongyang amusement park.
It’s unclear when Kim and Ri got married. Some have reported the wedding was in 2009 but others say the couple met in 2010 at a classical music concert.
Very little is known about Ri’s life before marrying Kim. South Korean reports say she studied singing in China and visited South Korea in 2005 as a member of North Korea’s cheerleading squad.
Ri has a taste for expensive Western fashion. She’s been criticized for carrying luxury bags from Dior and Chanel while many North Korean civilians struggle under poverty and famine.
It’s believed Ri had her third child February 2016 after disappearing from public view for several months. It’s been speculated Kim wanted a boy to inherit his dictatorship.
The secrecy around Ri is no surprise to North Koreans. Kim’s father Kim Jong-il never introduced any of his wives to the public.
