North Korea President Wife Photo

Kim Jong-un and Wife Attend Concert in Rare Public Appearance

Ms. Ri and Mr. Kim All Smiles at State Function

North Korea's First Lady Attends Cultural Performance

In a rare public appearance, Ms. Ri Sol Ju, the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was seen attending a concert on Tuesday, April 14, 2018. State-run media published a photo of Ms. Ri in a traditional red-and-black hanbok dress, chatting and smiling with her husband during the event. The couple was attending a concert marking one of the country's biggest holidays, the Day of the Sun.

WEB TV footage showed Ms. Ri and Mr. Kim enjoying the performance, surrounded by high-level officials. The concert featured performances by the State Symphony Orchestra and the Moranbong Band, a popular all-female group. Analysts have noted that Ms. Ri's presence at this event is a significant development, as she has rarely been seen in public since her husband took power in 2011.

Her attendance suggests that she is playing an increasingly prominent role in North Korean society. It also underscores the importance of the Day of the Sun, which commemorates the birth of Kim Il-sung, the country's founder and Mr. Kim's grandfather. The concert was held at the Mansudae Art Theatre in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital.

This public appearance by Ms. Ri and Mr. Kim comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests in recent months, and the United States has responded with threats of military action. It remains unclear what impact, if any, Ms. Ri's increased visibility will have on the ongoing situation.