The second most important Korean meeting! Kim and President Moon’s wives come face to face for the first time – and the pair get on brilliantly

• The first ladies of North and South Korea came together and met for the first time at today’s summit dinner
• Historic meeting was between Kim Jong-un’s wife Ri Sol-ju and Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in 
• The two first ladies seemed delighted by their meeting, clasping hands with Kim Jung-sook laughing happily
• They later joined their husbands, coming together for a banquet dinner where they continued smiling joyfully 

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The wives of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have met for the first time. 

Ri Sol-ju, the wife of Kim Jong-un, crossed the border in the Demilitarized Zone into South Korean territory on Friday to attend the summit dinner hosted by President Moon Jae-in.

Before sitting at the dinner table, she had a brief conversation with South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook, marking the first-ever meeting between first ladies of the two Koreas.

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In a historic meeting, Ri Sol-ju, the wife of Kim-Jong Un (right, in the pink dress) and Kim Jung-sook , the wife of President Moon Jae-in (left, in the blue dress), met, marking the first time the two Korean first ladies had ever come together

Ri Sol-ju (pictured) crossed the border in the Demilitarized Zone and joined her husband Kim Jong-un in South Korean territory on Friday for the first time

While there, she could be seen warmly clasping the hand of her fellow first lady, who seemed delighted to meet her (Ri Sol-ju right and Kim Jung-sook left)

Upon her arrival at the truce village of Panmunjom at 6:15 pm, she headed directly for the Peace House building on the southern side of the village, where the welcome dinner is set to take place. 

Moon and Kim had a historic summit on the second floor of the building earlier in the day.

‘I’m happy to hear from my husband that the summit was a success. 

Later, Ri Sol-ju(left) joined her husband (centre) for the summit dinner which was hosted by President Moon Jae-in (right)

South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook also joined them and the leading families could be seen sharing drinks before the banquet

The two leading couples posed together for an historic photo and seemed pleased to have come together for the summit talks

At one point, Ri Sol-ju could be seen looking towards her husband and smiling as the first couples strolled together ahead of the dinner

‘I hope things between the two leaders do go well,’ South Korea TV quoted Ri as saying during the meeting. 

The two ladies seemed to really hit it off, with Kim Jung-sook seen laughing happily after greeting her North Korean counterpart.

They could be seen clasping hand as photographers swarmed them, rushing to capture the historic moment. 

Kim Jong-un and his wife posed together for photos during the historic meeting and both seemed to be in high spirits

The first lady of South Korea, Kim Jung-sook, seemed very animated as she spoke to Kim Jong-un who seemed like he was rapt with interest

Ri Sol-ju (centre) seemed unafraid of the limelight, despite her lack of experience at official meeting, and could be seen entertaining the other three

Later the North Korean leader and his wife took their places at the summit dinner, which was hosted by President Moon Jae-in

Later, the first lady’s met up with their respective husbands before introducing themselves to the other leader.

The South Korean first lady could be seen smiling widely as she met Kim Jong-un, shaking his hand and looking animated as she engaged him in conversation.

Ri Sol-ju, though less animated than her counterpart, also seemed pleased with the meeting, toasting President Moon Jae-in and smiling throughout the dinner.

The couples seemed in high spirits throughout the historic event, pictured smiling and clapping joyfully with several officials flanking them during the dinner

Kim Jong-un can be seen addressing the summit dinner while his wife watches on and the South Korean President and first lady pay close attention

She was dressed elegantly in a pink, Western dress, a knee length skirt and with her hair coiffed over the side of her face neatly.

She could later be seen smiling while seated next to her husband at the summit dinner.  

The couples seemed in high spirits throughout the historic event.  

Onlookers seemed delighted by the summit as it progressed, with their pleased expressions mirroring the joy on the faces of the leaders

There seemed to be an air of celebration at the summit dinner, with the leaders clinking glasses as they toasted the recent discussions

Who is Ri Sol-ju? Former singer and cheerleader who had to take a six-month course before becoming Kim Jong-un’s wife

Ri Sol-ju was pictured accompanying husband Kim Jong-un as he visited Beijing this week – but just who is the dictator’s wife? 

Very little is known about Ri, including her exact age, who her parents are and what her life was like before marrying Kim.

Even her name remains a mystery, as observers believe Ri is actually a pseudonym designed to keep her life before marriage a secret.

Kim Jong-un visited China this week alongside his seldom-seen wife, Ri Sol-ju. Little is known about her, including her age, who her parents are, and whether Ri is even her real name

It is widely believed that Ri was a singer before meeting Kim, and may have once been part of a North Korean cheerleading squad that visited the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships

Ri and Kim met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in Beijing this week in his first foreign visit as Supreme Leader

She was first pictured on Kim’s arm in 2012 at a concert and North Korea subsequently confirmed she was Kim’s wife, but said nothing else about her.

She then appeared with him multiple times between 2012 and 2014 before largely disappearing from public view until recently, when her presence became much more pronounced.

Sources speaking in the South Korean media when she was first identified said she is a former cheerleader and singer, and gave her date of birth as some time between 1985 and 1989.

She was said to have been pictured in 2005 visiting South Korea during the Asian Athletics Championships as part of the North Korean cheerleading squad.

Others said she was a singer with the Unhasu orchestra who may have performed for Kim and his father, Kim Jong-il, during a New Year concert in 2010.

‘There is a possibility Jong-un chose her as his wife after seeing her at the concert hall,’ the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said at the time.

Ri was first seen with Kim in 2012 at a concert and then a water park (pictured). North Korean media initially said nothing about her before confirming she was his wife

Ri (pictured in 2012) is believed to have married Kim in 2009 or 2010 and likely gave birth to their first child soon afterwards

We know Kim and Ri have a second child, named Ju-ae, because the information was given away by Dennis Rodman in an interview. They are also rumored to have a third

There was a North Korean singer by the name of Ri Sol-ju, the BBC reported, but it has never been confirmed if she and Ki’ms wife are the same person.

South Korean security services agree that she is a singer, but say her name is actually Hyon Song-wol and was changed after marriage.

Elsewhere, the BBC reported that Ri was hastily married to Kim in 2009 as part of a succession plan drawn up by Kim Jong-il after he suffered a stroke.

It is believed she gave birth to their first child the following year with subsequent births taking place in 2013 and possibly in 2016, after she disappeared from public.

According to US basketball star Dennis Rodman, who is an unlikely friend of Kim, their middle child is called Ju-ae, after he let the information slip in an interview. 

Nothing is known about the other children.

Ri was often pictured with Kim between 2012 and 2014 (above) but then disappeared from view, causing speculation of another pregnancy

Kim and Ri pictured at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, in December 2016. This was the first time she had been seen in public for eight months

Ri has appeared in public several times recently, including during a parade in Pyongyang to mark the found of the country’s military

Before marrying Kim, Ri was reportedly sent to Kim Il-sung University, the country’s most prestigious, to study a six-month course in being the first lady.

It has also been reported that she obtained a science degree from the same university years earlier.

According to AFP Ri was born in the northeastern province of North Hamkyong to an academic father and a doctor mother.

That would make her part of the political elite, since such positions are reserved only for those who are most loyal to the regime.

She is also said to be related to Ri Pyong-chol, a former air force general and close advisor of Kim Jong-un. 

Ri is also known for her love of fine fashion, which is unusual in North Korea.

When she was first described by the country’s press she was said to be wearing ‘a trim black suit in the Chanel tradition’ and once gifted a Dior bag to Kenji Fujimoto, Kim Jong-il’s sushi chef.

Fujimoto claimed to have met her and described her as ‘just so charming… I cannot describe her voice, it’s so soft…’. 

South Korean diplomats who traveled to the North for talks with Kim Jong-un recently said Ri joined him at the negotiating table.

They said the pair were an affectionate couple and ‘seemed equal’.

 

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