Kim Jong-un, leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, waves to the crowd as they inspect the Rungna People’s Pleasure Ground in Pyongyang on Wednesday. Korean Central News Agency Via Xinhua

Kim’s wife a former singer who studied in China

ROK legislator Jung Chung-rai, citing what he said was information given to a closed parliamentary session by the ROK’s National Intelligence Service, said Ri was born in 1989 and studied singing in China.

Jung said Ri had visited Incheon, west of Seoul, in September 2005 as a member of her country’s cheering squad for the Asian Athletics Championships.

An NIS spokesman declined to disclose what was said during the closed meeting.

Ri has been pictured several times this month accompanying Kim.

The ROK’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper and other media said Ri is believed to be a former singer who came to the young Kim’s notice during a performance.

The Kim Il-sung University graduate is from the northeastern province of North Hamkyong. Her father is an academic and her mother is a doctor, the paper said.