Kim Jong Un's wife makes 1st public appearance in a year
- by Emilio Sims
- in Money
- — Feb 17, 2021
The official ruling Worker's Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun released photos of the pair at the event marking the birthday of Mr Kim's late father, former leader Kim Jong Il.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's wife, Ri Sol Ju, has reportedly appeared in public for the first time in more than a year, with questions swirling around the mysterious partner of the dictator.
Since Ri does not hold any formal government positions, she was not expected to attend any events with Kim over the a year ago. North Korea has given no explanation for her absence.
Seoul's National Intelligence Service "briefed us that North Korea tried to obtain technology involving the Covid vaccine and treatment by using cyberwarfare to hack into Pfizer", said Parliament member Ha Tae-keung following a closed-door hearing, according to Agence France-Presse. Many outside experts are highly skeptical about North Korea's claims to have had no coronavirus cases but say the country likely has avoided a widespread outbreak thanks to more than a year of stringent lockdowns.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with his wife Ri Sol Ju
Credit AP
Various incidents of pharmaceutical firms being the target of online hackers have taken place since the start of the pandemic, such as AstraZeneca in November 2020, followed by the European Agency of Medicine just a month later.
The rare border crossing Tuesday came as North Korea's prolonged lockdowns rolled back the number of defectors arriving in South Korea to an all-time low a year ago.
The U.S. government also accused Chinese hackers of targeting vaccine makers, while South Korea said it had foiled a North Korean attempt to hack into companies developing coronavirus vaccines in that country past year. Ri also joined Kim as they rode horses through the snow on North Korea's Mount Paektu, the symbolic seat of Kim family rule over the country.
There was no immediate reaction to the South Korean intelligence account from North Korea's state media. They are thought to have three children, but there is no official mention of their offspring. Dennis Rodman, the offbeat basketball great who visited Kim in North Korea, said in 2013 he held the leader's baby girl in his arms, a daughter named Ju Ae.
