Kim Jong Un's wife Ri Sol-ju made her appearance at an official event for the first time in about 18 months.
Korean Central News Agency reported on the 26th that Kim Jong Un attended the completion ceremony of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area on the 24th, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae and Ri Sol-ju. This marks the first time Ri Sol-ju has appeared in public since watching the New Year's celebration performance last January.
In the released photos, Ri Sol-ju attracted attention wearing a white top and black pants, carrying a luxury brand Gucci handbag on her shoulder. Kim Jong Un and his daughter were seated in the center, while Ri Sol-ju stood relatively in the back to maintain the focus on them.
Ri Sol-ju became a topic of discussion when she was the first high-ranking woman in North Korea to publicly appear in pants in 2012, but she has been rarely seen in pants since.
Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol-ju's daughter Kim Ju-ae was dressed in a white two-piece outfit and wore a Cartier watch. The exact model name has not been identified.
The Kim family has frequently been spotted wearing high-end luxury products. Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Labor Party, was seen carrying a bag from the French luxury brand "Christian Dior" in 2023. Kim Ju-ae also wore a Dior coat while observing the test launch of the "Hwasong-17" the same year.
According to the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the Central Committee of the (North) Korean Workers' Party, Russian ambassadors and embassy staff were also invited as special guests to the event. This is presumed to be aimed at attracting Russian tourists.
Kim Jong Un expressed his confidence at the completion ceremony that the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area would serve as an attractive business card as a global tourist and cultural resort, according to the Rodong Sinmun. He also announced that significant plans to construct large-scale tourist and cultural districts across multiple regions based on the achievements in the development of the Kalma Peninsula will be confirmed at the 9th Congress of the Labor Party.
North Korea explained that the area is equipped with accommodations for 20,000 people, swimming beach services, and various sports and entertainment facilities. Operations are scheduled to begin for domestic visitors starting from the 1st of next month, with possibilities of expanding to attract overseas tourists including Russian visitors.