North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s wife, Ri Sol-ju, has not appeared in public for nearly 14 months, sparking speculation.
However, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has stated that there are no signs of abnormalities regarding her status. This suggests that Ri’s prolonged absence is not due to health issues or a change in her position but is instead part of a deliberate move to elevate Kim’s daughter, Ju-ae, according to analysts.
On February 24, the NIS told the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea Daily, in response to an inquiry, “There are no unusual signs regarding Ri Sol-ju’s status at this time.”
According to the Ministry of Unification, Ri’s last known public appearance was on January 1, 2024, when she attended a New Year’s performance at Pyongyang’s 5.1 Stadium alongside her daughter, Ju-ae, and Kim Jong-un. If the NIS’s analysis is correct, Ri’s absence is not due to unavoidable circumstances but rather a calculated effort by the North Korean regime to keep her out of the spotlight.
Ri Sol-ju’s Absence Raises Questions Amid Speculation of Ju-ae’s Promotion
A source familiar with North Korean affairs told the JoongAng Ilbo on February 24, “Ri Sol-ju has not stepped away from public activities due to pregnancy or childbirth.” The source further stated, “It is known that Ju-ae has a younger brother.”
This suggests that Ri has already given birth to a potential male heir for the fourth-generation Kim dynasty. Additionally, Kim Jong-un himself is believed to have had an inferiority complex over the fact that his mother was not an official first lady. Given these factors, analysts believe that there is little reason for Kim to reduce Ri’s status unless there were an extraordinary circumstance.
Since taking power, Kim has frequently brought Ri to state events, including summits with foreign leaders, while simultaneously portraying Ju-ae as his most cherished child through state media. Based on this pattern, experts believe that Ri’s extended absence is primarily due to the regime’s effort to spotlight Ju-ae. Even during her last public appearance in January 2024, it was Ju-ae, not Ri Sol-ju, who walked arm-in-arm with Kim Jong-un and stood closest to him throughout the event.
Kim Ju-ae Taking on First Lady-Like Role
Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, noted, “North Korea is portraying Ju-ae as a ‘Young Lady’ who is effectively playing the role of First Lady.” He added, “If Ri Sol-ju appeared alongside Ju-ae, their similar facial features could divide public attention. Additionally, keeping Ju-ae in the spotlight as a child figure likely aligns better with the regime’s image-making strategy.”
For Kim Jong-un, who wants to be perceived as a leader on par with, or even superior to, his predecessors Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, his daughter Ju-ae serves as a valuable propaganda tool. By positioning himself as a benevolent father figure while presenting Ju-ae as a symbol of the future, Kim can project a message of stability and prosperity to the North Korean people.
Ju-ae’s Growing Influence in Kim Jong-un’s Leadership
Some experts also suggest that Ju-ae, who is believed to be highly favored by Kim, is playing a key role in supporting her father. Oh Kyung-seop, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, “Kim Jong-un is strategically using Ju-ae to shift his image from a ‘Young General’ during his succession phase to that of a ‘National Father.’” He further added, “Some analyses suggest that Ju-ae is actively involved in public events to provide psychological reassurance to Kim Jong-un, who is known for his volatile temper.”
Ri Sol-ju was born in Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, and attended Pyongyang’s Kumsong High School, known for nurturing artistic talents. In September 2005, she visited South Korea as part of North Korea’s cheering squad for the 16th Asian Athletics Championships in Incheon. It is believed that she married Kim Jong-un in 2009. She made her first public appearance alongside Kim in July 2012 during an inspection of Pyongyang’s Rungna People’s Pleasure Park, which was the first official acknowledgment of her status as the First Lady.
BY YEONGGYO CHUNG, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
