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Last Updated:June 27, 2025, 16:28 IST
Ri Sol Ju, wife of Kim Jong Un, appeared at the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone opening with a Gucci handbag, showcasing North Korea's elite luxury despite sanctions.
The bag stood out as a striking contradiction to North Korea’s sanctioned status and grim economic conditions.
The rarely seen wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un- Ri Sol Ju- made a rare public appearance this week after more than a year and a half out of the spotlight, but with style. As Ri Sol Ju attended the lavish ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly completed beach resort on North Korea’s eastern coast, she was photographed carrying what appeared to be a luxury handbag from Italian fashion house Gucci.
The event, marking the opening of the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, was framed by state media as a “national treasure-level" achievement where Ri Sol Ju was seen with a handbag that closely resembles the Gucci GG Marmont shoulder bag which retails for over $2,000.
The bag stood out as a striking contradiction to North Korea’s sanctioned status and grim economic conditions. Luxury goods are explicitly banned from export to North Korea under United Nations sanctions aimed at curbing the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Despite these restrictions, luxury items continue to surface inside North Korea’s elite circles- often smuggled in through diplomatic pouches which are shielded from customs inspection under the Vienna Convention.
Rachel Minyoung Lee, a non-resident fellow at the Stimson Center’s 38 North program, told Newsweek, “This is more than a fashion statement- it’s a political signa. It reinforces the image of an untouchable ruling family living in a bubble of privilege, while most North Koreans struggle with daily survival."
Ri Sol Ju had not been seen in official state media since January 1, 2024, sparking speculation about her health and role within the regime. Dr. Edward Howell, a North Korea analyst at the University of Oxford, said, “Kim Jong Un’s taste for luxury has never been subtle. From his armored limousines and Swiss watches to private planes and yachts, this regime continues to violate the spirit of international sanctions with impunity."
Location :North Korea
First Published:News world Smuggled In Style? Kim Jong Un’s Wife Seen After 18 Months With ₹1.7 Lakh Gucci
