State media: North Korea's Kim Jong Un has married
(CNN) -- North Korea's youthful leader, Kim Jong Un,
has married a woman named Ri Sol Ju, according to a report by state
news agency KCNA Wednesday.
The couple appeared
together at the opening of the Rungna People's Pleasure Ground in the
capital, Pyongyang, the news agency said.
Kim and his wife toured
the park in the company of local and international officials and watched
dolphins perform stunts to music, KCNA said. The park, on the Taedong
River, includes a dolphinarium, wading pool, fun fair and mini golf
course, it said.
No details were given of when Kim and Ri were married, but she is referred to several times by the news agency as his wife.
Little is known about
Kim, who became the third generation of his family to lead his reclusive
country when he assumed power following the death of his father, Kim
Jong Il, in December.
Kim Jong Il, known as
"Dear Leader," had ruled for 17 years after inheriting power from the
country's founding father, Kim Il Sung, the eternal president and "Great
Leader."
Kim Jong Un was granted
the title of "Supreme Leader." His age is still a source of speculation,
though it's thought that he's in his late 20s.
This month, there was
much speculation about the identity of a young woman who was by his side
during more than one official engagement.
On one occasion, she
accompanied the young leader to a Pyongyang theater on a Friday night to
watch a performance of North Korea's Moranbong band. The display
included a cast of Disney characters, although The Walt Disney Co. said
their use was not authorized.
The same woman was seen
on state TV two days later, walking a few paces behind Kim as he toured
Kumsusan Palace in Pyongyang, and then she was shown standing to
attention at Kim's side as they and top military officials paid tribute
to his grandfather.
Her appearance was a sufficiently unusual event to prompt newspaper headlines in neighboring South Korea.
Analysts have watched North Korea closely for clues to any shift in direction since Kim Jong Un assumed power.
Kim Jong Un is shown with a young woman this month. It is not known if she is Ri Sol Ju.
"He is the youngest head
of state in the world," analyst Patrick Chovanec said. "There's still a
lot of debate about how much power he has, whether other family members
are in control or the military."
In April, Kim gave his
first televised speech since assuming the country's leadership, when he
addressed hundreds of troops and others in Pyongyang as part of a
massive, orchestrated celebration marking 100 years since the birth of
his grandfather.
He gave his second
public speech in June, before tens of thousands of children in Pyongyang
on the 66th anniversary of the Korean Children's Union.
His father is believed to have made only one brief broadcast while in charge.
According to what little
has been revealed about him, Kim Jong Un was educated partly in
Switzerland, loves music and Western movies, and is a huge basketball
fan. He is the youngest son of Kim Jong Il.
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