North Korean leader’s wife confirmed: report

A mysterious young woman who appeared at the side of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in recent footage from the North’s state broadcaster is “confirmed to be his wife,” a South Korean channel reported on Tuesday.

Quoting an unnamed source from North Korea, YTN said Kim’s wife is a 27-year-old from Cheongjin, North Hamgyeong Province. She graduated from Kim Il-sung University, married the young leader in 2009 while working on her Ph.D and gave birth to a daughter in 2010, the broadcaster said.

The woman, whom YTN identified only by her surname Hong, emerged as the subject of speculation in recent days after she appeared on TV on Sunday. In the footage, she is seen wearing a yellow dress and visiting a kindergarten in Pyongyang with Kim.

The footage showed the two laughing with each other and touching a child’s hair together.

It was her third appearance on state television. First, she was shown seated with Kim at a concert on July 7. Then, she was shown with Kim at a ceremony on July 8 marking the 18th anniversary of the death of his grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il-sung.

However, the South Korean authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the woman. Earlier, Seoul government sources said the possibility of her being Kim’s wife is very high, considering her close distance to him. She was much closer than other high-ranking officials including his powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek.

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at the Sejong Institute, said the disclosure of the apparent first lady of the reclusive state may have been affected by Kim’s exposure to western culture. He studied in Switzerland for four and a half years in his youth where gatherings of married couples are considered natural, Cheong said.

Stressing that he is not single but a married leader can help him cover his weakest point ― his young age ― and help him appear more affectionate, he said.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)