Pictures Show North Korea's Kim Jong-Un In Rare Appearance With Wife

Photos released Sunday captured a rare appearance by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol-ju. The pictures, released by North Korean’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), show Kim inspecting the Pyongyang Cosmetic Factory.

It’s unclear exactly when the images were taken, as they were released without a date. The pictures show Kim happily inspecting parts of the factory as his wife looks on. During his visit, Kim called for production of “cosmetics of good quality with world competitive power," according to the Korea Herald. KCNA reported that Kim was “very pleased” with the factory. Kim apparently also said during the outing that the products produced there help North Korean women “be more beautiful.”

“The variety of cosmetics produced by the factory are numerous and qualitative and that not only pattern of their vessels but packing boxes are very nice,” Kim reportedly said, according to The Sun. “It has come to have the dream of the women who want to be more beautiful be realized.”

Kim’s wife, who is shown in the photos, remains largely mysterious to much of the public. Her exact age is unknown and she rarely makes public appearances. The pair reportedly had a third child recently, though the exact age and gender of all the children is unclear. Ri’s presence is so rare that rumors about her whereabouts started circulating after she apparently disappeared for months after an appearance in 2016.

A private life shrouded in mystery is common for North Korea’s leaders and Kim’s family. Neither Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, nor his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, were ever pictured with their partners in public. In that regard, Kim has flouted tradition by appearing publicly with Ri.