Kim Jong-un first saw wife Ri Sol-ju at a music performance and instantly fell in love with her
North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un reportedly married his wife Ri Sol-ju after he fell in love with her at a music performance. Ri was first pictured with Kim in June, 2012, fuelling speculations about who the stylish young woman accompanying Kim was. It was later revealed that she was the first lady of North Korea and Kim loved her dearly. The North Korean dictator's first picture with his wife set him apart from his father and grandfather who were never pictured with their wives at public events.
Although official details of Ri's life before marriage are not revealed, according to South Korean media, the short-haired and smiling woman who first appeared with Kim, in her twenties at the time, was a former songstress and was particularly trained to become the North Korean leader's consort.
Ri was first sighted publicly singing on video footage of a performance released by Pyongyang in February, 2011. She had taken a six-month course in the duties of a first lady, according to Yonhap news agency, the Telegraph reported.
Ri was reportedly active in North Korea's Unhasu orchestra until 2011, and had performed for Kim and his father on New Year's Eve 2010, according to Chosun Ilbo newspaper. The outlet quoted a source, saying: "There is a possibility Jong-un chose her as his wife after seeing her at the concert hall."
The outlet reported that Ri had undergone a six-month course in duties of the first lady at country's most prestigious academic institution, Kim Il-sung University.
Ri was also described by another outlet as a former singer whom Kim noticed during a concert performance. Reports state that Kim's father had specially chosen her to become the first lady while he was formulating his succession plan.
It is reported that Ri, a Kim Il-sung University graduate, is from the northeastern province of North Hamkyong. Her father is an academic and her mother a doctor.
Although Ri's life post marriage remains largely secretive, it is reported that she has at least three children with Kim. American basketball legend Deniss Rodman, who was the first American citizen to personally meet Kim Jong-un in September 2013, was the first person to reveal that Kim has a daughter and described him as a "great dad."
The North Korean leader's absence from the public eye recently has sparked varied speculations, with many reports claiming that the dictator is dead. The latest reports have emerged amid increasing scrutiny over Kim's health after a South Korean outlet, Daily NK, claimed that Kim had undergone a cardiovascular system procedure in North Pyongyang on April 12 because of "excessive smoking, obesity and overworking."
US media, a week later, reportedly received a tip from an intelligence official that the dictator was indeed in a critical condition.
Kim's health came under scrutiny after he gave a miss to an annual visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun for the 108th birthday of his late grandfather, state founder Kim Il-sung, last week, on April 15.