The mysterious life of Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol-ju, who probably has 3 children and frequently disappears from the public eye

KCNA via Reuters

Few details are known about Ri Sol-ju, the woman who in 2012 was identified as the wife of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Ri is thought to be 28 now and a mother to three children, according to South Korean intelligence reports. The Hermit Kingdom's secretive government, however, has not confirmed that information.

Ri doesn't appear in public very often. She's usually seen when Kim celebrates missile test launches, and is always photographed smiling politely, wearing clean-cut, pastel-colored dresses.

Ri was reportedly born into an elite family — her father was a professor and her mother a doctor — but little else is known about her life or how she ultimately became the wife of the world's most notorious living dictator.

Here's everything we know about Ri Sol-ju:

Ri Sol-ju was first identified as the wife of Kim Jong Un in July 2012, when North Korean state media made it official.

KCNA via KNS/AP Images

An international media frenzy had been mounting for weeks over the "mystery woman" spotted with Kim at a a series of public events, including a theater performance featuring Disney characters, and a tribute to Kim's grandfather on the anniversary of his death.

KCNA via Reuters

Source: CNN

Ri's eventual public introduction was underwhelming, to say the least. North Korean media mentioned her almost as an afterthought during coverage of an amusement park opening in Pyongyang.

KCNA via Reuters

Source: The New York Times

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