SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea ended weeks of speculation Wednesday by confirming that the mystery woman beside young leader Kim Jong Un at recent public events is his wife, “comrade Ri Sol Ju.”
A state TV report gave no details about Ri, including how long she and Kim have been married.
Kim, who inherited the rule of North Korea from his father, Kim Jong Il, seven months ago, has been seen with Ri at a concert, a kindergarten visit and other events recently, but state media did not mention her before now, fueling widespread speculation about her identity.
“Kim Jong Un is breaking with his father’s secrecy-shrouded leadership,” said Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at South Korea’s Kyungnam University. “The revelation of his wife is a sign that Kim wants to show a more open leadership.”
The couple’s public appearances are a striking contrast to Kim Jong Il’s style. His 17-year rule was known for its secrecy, and his companions and children were rarely discussed.
