The woman, whom YTN identified only by her surname Hong, emerged as the subject of speculation in recent days after she appeared on TV on Sunday. In the footage, she is seen wearing a yellow dress and visiting a kindergarten in Pyongyang with Kim.

The footage showed the two laughing with each other and touching a child’s hair together.

It was her third appearance on state television. First, she was shown seated with Kim at a concert on July 7. Then, she was shown with Kim at a ceremony on July 8 marking the 18th anniversary of the death of his grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il-sung.

However, the South Korean authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the woman. Earlier, Seoul government sources said the possibility of her being Kim’s wife is very high, considering her close distance to him. She was much closer than other high-ranking officials including his powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek. 

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at the Sejong Institute, said the disclosure of the apparent first lady of the reclusive state may have been affected by Kim’s exposure to western culture. He studied in Switzerland for four and a half years in his youth where gatherings of married couples are considered natural, Cheong said.  

Stressing that he is not single but a married leader can help him cover his weakest point -- his young age -- and help him appear more affectionate, he said.


By Kim Yoon-mi
(yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)



<관련 한글 기사>

'김정은 3살 난 딸 있다'

최근 북한 김정은 노동당 제1비서와 함께 TV에 등장한 젊은 여성은 김정은의 부인이 확실하다고 YTN이 보도했다

이 여성은 김일성 종합대학을 졸업한 27살의 홍 모 씨며 김정은 제1비서와의 사이에 3살 난 딸도 있는 것으로 전해졌다.

북한 소식통을 인용한 YTN은 이 여성은 2009년 김정은과 결혼해 이듬해 딸을 낳았다고 전했다.

한국 다욱은 이 여성의 신원에 대해 아직 확인된 바가 없다고 말했다.

(코리아헤럴드)