First Lady of North Korea
The First Lady of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Korean; 조선민주주의인민공화국의 영부인; Hanja: 朝鲜民主主义人民共和国第一夫人) or often referred to as the First Lady of North Korea, is a woman married to the Supreme Leader of North Korea. Not all past wives were not given this title. Ri Sol-ju is current First Lady of North Korea.
| First Lady of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
조선민주주의인민공화국 영부인 | |
|---|---|
| Residence | Ryongsong Residence, Pyongyang, North Korea |
| Inaugural holder | Kim Song-ae |
| Formation | 17 December 1963 |
Background
During the presidency of the North Korean Premier Kim Il-Sung, his wife Kim Song-ae took on the role and duties of first lady in 1963. Approximately 11 years after marriage. After his death in 1994, his son Kim Jong-il took on the role of supreme leader, the role of first lady was left vacant during his time in office. Kim Jong-il was married twice and had three different domestic partnerships from time to time.
After his death in 2011 he was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong-un and the role of first lady was re-established in April 2018 when his wife Ri Sol-ju, the woman he married in 2009, when North Korean officials and state media lifted her title from "Comrade" Ri Sol-ju to Respected "First Lady". The title had not been used since 1974 when it was described to Kim Song-ae. The honor occurred during the April 2018 inter-Korean Summit when Ri and the First Lady of South Korea, Kim Jung-sook had met and attended the summit.
List
| Supreme Leader No. |
Portrait | First Lady (Maiden name) |
Tenure | Age at tenure start | Supreme Leader (Husband, unless noted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80px | Kim Song-ae 1924–2014 (aged 89) [1][2][3] |
17 December 1963 – 15 August 1974 |
38 years, 353 days | Kim Il-sung m. 1952 |
| 2 | Vacant | 15 August 1974 – 15 April 2018 |
43 years, 243 days | Kim Jong-il m. 1966 and 1974 | |
| 3 | .png)
|
Ri Sol-ju Born 26 October 1989 [4][5][6] |
15 April 2018 – present |
28 years, 158 days | Kim Jong-un m. 2009 |
References
- ↑ "North Korea leader Kim Jong-un married to Ri Sol-ju". BBC News. 25 July 2012. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18986249. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
- ↑ Sang-hun Choe (25 July 2012). "North Korean Leader Marries". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/world/asia/north-korean-leader-marries-reports-say.html?smid=pl-share. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
- ↑ "Keeping up with the Kims: North Korea's elusive first family" (in en-GB). BBC News. 29 August 2017. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41081356. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- ↑ Joohee Cho (26 July 2012). "North Korea's First Lady Was Cheerleader, Ditches Drab Outfits". ABC News. https://news.yahoo.com/north-koreas-first-lady-cheerleader-ditches-drab-outfits-154517376--abc-news-topstories.html. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ↑ Thayer, Nate (26 July 2012). "North Korea IDs Mystery Woman as Kim Jong-Un's Wife—But Who Is She, Really?". The Daily Beast. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/26/north-korea-ids-mystery-woman-as-kim-jong-un-s-wife-but-who-is-she-really.html. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ↑ O'Connor, Tom (27 September 2017). "Meet Ri Sol Ju, wife of Kim Jong Un and first lady of North Korea" (in en). Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/who-kim-jong-un-wife-melania-trump-meet-north-korea-first-lady-671637. Retrieved 10 February 2018.