Last month, North Korea released an official photo of Ri Sol Ju’s visit to the burial place of Kim Jong Il, in commemoration of the late leader’s 71st birthday. But rather than focus on the commemoration of Kim Jong Il's passing or Kim Jong Un's attendance, an article from Seoul-based news agency Yonhap, focuses almost entirely on the body of the North Korean First Lady—specifically, a figure much slimmer than seen in images from earlier this year—leading to speculation about her pregnancy and childbirth.
Last month, North Korea released an official photo of Ri Sol Ju’s visit to the burial place of Kim Jong Il, in commemoration of the late leader’s 71st birthday. But rather than focus on the commemoration of Kim Jong Il's passing or Kim Jong Un's attendance, an article from Seoul-based news agency Yonhap, focuses almost entirely on the body of the North Korean First Lady—specifically, a figure much slimmer than seen in images from earlier this year—leading to speculation about her pregnancy and childbirth.
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Darcie Draudt is currently a Master's candidate at the Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies in Seoul and researches consumer culture, gender and the media. She regularly contributes on gender issues at SinoNK.com.