Advertisement

North Korea's first lady in public for first time since porn rumors

PYONGYANG, North Korea, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- North Korean first lady Ri Sol Ju appeared in public for the first time since rumors she appeared in pornography before her marriage to leader Kim Jong Un.

Ri dropped out of the public eye Sept. 15 after some speculation she may have been linked to a group of 20 musicians who were executed in August for making pornographic videos, The Korea Times reported Thursday.

Advertisement

The newspaper said Ri was a singer with the Unhasu Orchestra prior to marrying Kim.

A North Korean defector, whose name wasn't reported, told the newspaper they wouldn't be surprised to find out the orchestra members made pornography.

"When I was in North Korea, Unhasu Orchestra was not widely known to people," the defector said. "At that time, they were secretly regarded as Kim Jong Il's [so-called] Pleasure Brigade."

The orchestra was comprised of attractive young women who served to help Kim and his officials "relax," the defector added.

North Korea denied allegations Ri belonged to the group.

The official Korean Central News Agency said that anyone who questioned North Korea's "highest dignity" would be "mercilessly" punished.

Advertisement

Ri made her first public appearance in about a month Wednesday at a ceremony marking the completion of houses for professors in Pyongyang, The Korea Times said.

Latest Headlines