Pyongyang: North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is known for keeping his private life strictly under wraps, but the fact that his wife has not been seen in public for almost seven months now is giving rise to fear and speculation over her fate.
According to reports, many feel that the country’s First Lady, Ri Sol-ju, may have fallen out with her husband, while some believe that she may be pregnant.
Experts, who are aware of the ongoing situation in Pyongyang however, feel that Ri Sol-ju may have had a fight with Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, leading to a rift with his family.
Kim Yo-jong is known to be very close to her brother and wields considerable political clout over the affairs of the country. She is in-charge of North Korea's Propaganda and Agitation Department and is thus responsible for the Kim’s image in popular media.
Ri Sol-ju has rarely been in the spotlight since for unknown reasons.
Her marriage to Kim was only revealed in July 2012 when pictures emerged of a young woman accompanying Kim at official events in a break from the past, when the North's first ladies were kept out of the limelight.
She was pictured wearing stylish, expensive-looking outfits and on one occasion sported what appeared to be a Christian Dior handbag, in a country plagued by chronic poverty.
The Kim dynasty has ruled the isolated state for nearly seven decades with an iron fist and pervasive personality cult.
Kim Il-Sung led North Korea from its establishment in 1948 until his death on July 8, 1994.
He was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong-Il, who also ruled until his death in December 2011 when power was transferred to his son and current leader Kim Jong-Un.
