hankyoreh

Oct. 29. (KCNA/Yonhap News)

By Kim Kyu-won, staff reporter

Kim Jong-unappeared in public on Oct. 30 with his wife Ri Sol-ju, the latter’s first public appearance in 52 days.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that the North Korean leader and first lady attended a performance by the Moranbong Band to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of Kim Il-sung Military University. Ri was last seen in public on Sept. 8, while Kim had not been seen since Oct. 14.

Photos of Ri at the performance printed by KCNA and the Rodong Sinmun newspaper raised questions about whether the North Korean first lady may be pregnant. In the two photographs that were released, she is seen wearing a long beige overcoat, an outfit commonly worn by pregnant women in cold weather.

But observers also said the small size of the images made it impossible to tell from Ri’s face or body whether she is expecting.

Government officials and experts ventured their own takes on Ri‘s public appearance.

University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Mu-jin said that there was a possibility Ri is indeed pregnant. “She may have decided not to show herself to preserve some stability early on in her pregnancy,” he explained.

Yang added that she may have appeared in public to put to rest questions about her absence from the public eye since September.

A South Korean government official said that perceptions of the new North Korean leader as “gentler” were clearly in evidence after Ri’s public appearances back in July.

“But it’s also possible she has been avoiding public attention because of negative views about her nice handbag and clothing and her liberal demeanor,” said the official.

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