Kim Jong Un's wife Ri Sol-Ju spotted in public for the first time in nine months

North Korean First Lady’s appearance banishes mounting speculation she was either pregnant of having problems with her husband

Ri, who is believed to have married the supreme leader in 2009, sat by his side the celebratory banquet along with officials, scientists and defence technicians (Reuters)

Kim Jong-Un’s wife has been spotted in public for the first time in four months as North Korea celebrates its first intercontinental ballistic missile test.

Ri Sol-Ju was photographed by the North Korean leader’s side during a banquet in Pyongyang paying tribute to the developers of the recently launched missile.

The First Lady of North Korea’s appearance has banished mounting speculation she was either pregnant or having problems with the North Korean leader.

According to South Korea’s largest news agency Yonhap News, it is the first time she has been seen out at a public event since early March. Her appearances have become increasingly uncommon during the last two years.

But Ri, who is believed to have married the supreme leader in 2009, sat alongside officials, scientists and defence technicians during the celebratory banquet.

The mood in the so-called hermit kingdom is currently said to be one of celebration, with the country saying the launch signals the fact it has “risen to become one of the few nuclear weapon states”.

In 2016, Yonhap News estimated Ri, who is a former entertainer, to have accompanied Kim on public outings 18 times in 2012, 22 times in 2013 and 15 times in 2014. Whereas, in 2015 she was spotted just seven times and last year it was a mere three.

This lies in stark contrast to the North Korean leader’s father, Kim Jong-il, who was known to have at least four partners during his lifetime [Song Hye-rim, Kim Young-sook, Ko Young-hee and Kim Ok] but not one of them ever accompanied him in public.

Fears for Ri’s safety were raised at the end of last year after the First Lady was not seen in public for nine months.

The unknown whereabouts fuelled speculation she had fallen out of favour with Kim and members of his family including his sister Jim Yo-jang who is seen to be responsible for building up her brother’s cult of personality.

Others speculated she was pregnant as when she last disappeared from public view in 2012, it was later revealed by former American basketball star Dennis Rodman that she had given birth to a daughter.