Kim Jong-un’s wife makes first public appearance in 18 months

North Korean leader attends coastal resort complex launch with wife Ri Sol-ju and daughter Ju-ae

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s wife Ri Sol-ju made her first public appearance after about one and a half years.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on June 26 reported that the large beach resort complex in Kalma, Wonsan, Kangwon Province, was officially completed on June 24.

Kim attended the completion ceremony along with his wife Ri Sol-ju and daughter Ju-ae. Ri’s last known public appearance was on Jan. 1, 2024, when she attended a New Year’s Day grand performance.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (from right), his daughter Ju-ae, and wife Ri Sol-ju attend a completion ceremony for the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone on June 24. Behind them is Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. /Rodong Sinmun

Ri wore a modest outfit featuring a white top, black pants, and black shoes. In contrast, their daughter Ju-ae appeared in a white skirt suit paired with apricot-colored high heels. At the event, Ri stood slightly behind Kim Jong-un and Ju-ae, taking a quiet, supportive role.

Yang Moo-jin, president of North Korea Graduate School, told Yonhap News that Ri likely limited her public appearances to emphasize Kim Ju-ae as a potential successor. Yang added that her recent joint appearance aims to convey “family stability,” which in turn reflects broader social and national stability.

This combined photo shows Ri Sol-ju apparently carrying a luxury Gucci handbag (left) and the Gucci GG Marmont large shoulder bag. /Rodong Sinmun, Gucci website

Ri’s shoulder bag appeared to be from the Italian luxury brand Gucci. The Gucci GG Marmont large shoulder bag retails for about 4.2 million won on the official website. She has previously appeared publicly wearing high-end items, including Dior handbags, Tiffany necklaces, and dresses by Gucci and Versace.

The UN Security Council’s Resolution 1718, adopted after North Korea’s first nuclear test in 2006, bans luxury goods exports to the country. However, North Korea is known to smuggle luxury products through diplomatic pouches and distribute them to the ruling elite.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae tour the newly completed Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone on June 24 on June 24, followed by Ri Sol-ju wearing black pants and a white shirt./Rodong Sinmun

On the same day, Kim toured the resort area with party and government officials, visiting the Myongsasipri outdoor water park, Kalma Moranbong Hotel, and Myongsasipri Hotel. He praised the project as a “long-cherished effort now realized,” calling it one of this year’s greatest achievements fulfilling the eigth Party Congress’s decisions.

The KCNA described the Wonsan-Kalma resort as a tourist complex with hotels and inns capable of accommodating 20,000 guests. The area includes beach facilities, various sports and entertainment venues, and commercial services, serving as a cultural hub offering year-round enjoyment of the East Sea’s scenic beauty.

From left, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, daughter Ju-ae, and wife Ri Sol-ju watch a man riding a water slide during a completion ceremony for the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone on June 24. /News1

The event also welcomed Russia’s ambassador to North Korea and embassy staff as special guests, signaling plans to target Russian tourists. The Kalma coastal resort, a project Kim Jong-un has developed for over a decade, will partially open to domestic visitors starting July 1.