Latest news with #Ri
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Wife of North Korea's Kim Jong Un Reemerges With Luxury Handbag
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol Ju, reemerged in public Tuesday after a year and a half out of the spotlight, joining him and their daughter, Ju Ae, at a lavish completion ceremony for a beach resort on the poverty-stricken nation's east coast. Ri, who was last seen in state media photos on January 1, 2024, was pictured carrying what appears to be a handbag made by Italian luxury brand Gucci. Luxury good exports to North Korea are banned under United Nations sanctions targeting Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Nonetheless, such items reportedly make their way into the country via diplomatic pouches, which are exempt from customs inspection under international law. Kim Jong Un's taste for luxury is well documented, from expensive watches and cars to private jets. His close ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, even gifted him a Russian-made limousine after Kim took a liking to the vehicle during his 2023 visit to the country. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China via emailed request for comment. Ri's handbag appeared to be a Gucci GG Marmont shoulder bag, which retails for over $2,000. After the regime's move in late 2023 to raise official wages tenfold, the average worker now earns about 30,000 North Korean won-less than $4-per month, analysts say. Retail prices in North Korea are low but analysts say most citizens cannot survive on state salaries alone and must rely on informal or black market work to make ends meet. While Ju Ae-widely believed to be Kim's chosen successor-now frequently appears alongside her father, Ri's reemergence may be part of efforts to showcase the new Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area on the Kalma Peninsula. Kim declared that Wonsan Kalma would "shine as a world-level tourist resort," the first of several "paradises" planned around the country, according to the Korean Central News Agency. State media called the ceremony a "great auspicious event" in a press release. The tourist zone's hotels can accommodate nearly 20,000 guests and it boasts a range of facilities, restaurants and sea bathing. These features, KCNA said, "offer all year round the real taste of the east coast, presenting a wonderful picture of a 4 kilometer (2.5-mile)-long stretch of beach to be crowded with people every year." Moscow's ambassador and other officials from the Russian mission in the country attended the ceremony as special guests, per the outlet. Rachel Minyoung Lee, a non-resident fellow with the 38 North program at the Stimson Center, told CNN: "Wonsan-Kalma is open to just North Koreans for now, but we should not be surprised to see Russians at the resort in the not-too-distant future. "More broadly, the opening of a major beach resort like Wonsan-Kalma helps to reinforce the state media narrative of Kim's people-first policy and helps to balance out his greater focus on building up national defense," The resort will open to domestic tourists on July 1, according to KCNA. However, tour operators cited by the BBC believe Wonsan Kalma is primarily geared toward visitors from Russia. Russians are currently the only foreign nationals permitted in certain areas of North Korea, as the two countries continue to deepen their ties. Related Articles Iran Will Now Copy North Korea's Nuke Strategy-Top Intel Democrat FearsAs Trump Defends Iran Nuclear Site Destruction, Kim Jong Un Takes NotesUS Allies Ramp Up Sea Power as North Korea Threat RisesIran Lawmakers Eye Page From North Korea Nuclear Playbook After US Strikes 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
UPI
2 days ago
- Business
- UPI
North Korea set to open 'world-class' beach resort
Construction on the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist zone in Wonsan, North Korea, was completed and is set to open next week, state-run KCNA reported Thursday. The tourist zone features accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests as well as sea-bathing facilities and various sports and recreation amenities. Photo by KCNA/EPA-EFE SEOUL, June 26 (UPI) -- North Korea has completed construction of a massive "world-class" beach resort on its east coast and will open it to the public next week, state-run media reported Thursday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony for the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said. The complex, described by KCNA as a "world-class cultural resort," stretches along 2.5 miles of coastline and features houses, hotels and hostels for nearly 20,000 people. Attractions include "sea-bathing service facilities, various sports and recreation facilities and commercial and public catering facilities fully equipped with all conditions ... for providing the beauty of the scenic spot on the east coast in all seasons," KCNA said. In remarks at the opening ceremony, Kim called the completion of the resort one of the country's "greatest successes this year." "The Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area should play a leading role in establishing the tourist culture of the DPRK," he said, using the official name for North Korea. Kim was accompanied by his daughter, Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju. The public appearance was Ri's first since a New Year's Day arts performance on Jan. 1, 2024. In photos released by KCNA, Ri is seen holding what appears to be a Gucci handbag worth nearly $3,000, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. The export of luxury goods to North Korea is prohibited under a United Nations Security Council resolution. Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora also attended the ceremony. Launched in 2014, the sprawling Wonsan tourist zone was initially slated to open in April 2019 but faced numerous setbacks, including international sanctions on materials and COVID-19 pandemic closures. The resort will open for domestic visitors on July 1, KCNA said, without mentioning foreign tourists. International tourism offers a chance for the sanctions-hit North to earn foreign currency, but visitors have been almost nonexistent since Pyongyang sealed its borders at the start of the pandemic in January 2020. In the wake of growing military and economic ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, Russian travelers were the first to return to North Korea post-COVID, when an Air Koryo passenger flight arrived from Vladivostok early last year. Russia's TASS news agency reported on Wednesday that a train from Pyongyang arrived in Moscow, marking the resumption of direct rail service between the two capitals for the first time in five years. In February, a handful of Western travel agencies began offering small group tours to Rason, a special economic zone in the northeast of the country near the borders of China and Russia. However, North Korea abruptly halted the visits after less than three weeks. The United States last month extended its ban on travel to North Korea for the ninth year in a row, citing "imminent danger" posed by any trips to the authoritarian state.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
North Korean soldiers were not part of latest large prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia
North Korean soldiers currently held captive in Ukraine were not included in the recent thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Source: Yonhap News Agency, citing a statement by South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-won Details: Yu Yong-won said that two soldiers with the surnames Ri and Baek were not included in the list of prisoners exchanged between Ukraine and Russia, which took place from Friday to Sunday. He referred to a Ukrainian source. Yu added that the decision not to include the North Koreans on the list was made at Seoul's request. South Korea has said it is ready to accept the soldiers if they want to move to South Korea. One of them, Ri, has already expressed such an intention. MP Yu Yong-won met with both prisoners during his visit to Ukraine in February. One of the prisoners, Ri, expressed concern in a published audio recording that his parents could be executed if he returned to North Korea as part of the exchange. The MP called on the South Korean government to take steps to enable them to come to South Korea. Quote from Yu: "(Ri) is anticipating a tragic end for himself and his parents if he is repatriated to North Korea." Background: On 25 May, Ukraine and Russia carried out the third part of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange which was agreed upon in Türkiye. Another 303 Ukrainian defenders had been released from Russian captivity. Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, said that during the three-day exchange of POWs with Russia, not a single Azov soldier was exchanged, and he does not believe that the authorities are interested in getting these fighters back. Writer and former Kremlin political prisoner Stanislav Aseiev reported that among those released in the exchange, there were no civilians who had been held captive by Russia for eight years. In April 2025, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed that troops had been sent to Russia to fight against Ukraine, stating that this was in accordance with the provisions of the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between the DPRK and the Russian Federation. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
N. Korea says damaged destroyer under repair
North Korea's state media said Monday its new destroyer that was damaged last week during a launch attempt was under repair, adding that the North detained another official in connection with its investigation into the warship accident. The investigation group reported its work to the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on Sunday, and the law enforcement organ summoned and detained Ri Hyong-son, vice department director of the party's Munitions Industry Department, over the accident, the Korean Central News Agency said. The action was taken based on data from the investigation group, the KCNA said, describing Ri as "greatly responsible" for the accident. "At the scene of the destroyer launch accident, the work for completely restoring the balance of the warship is being actively conducted under the technical guidance of an expert group according to its schedule," the KCNA said. The destroyer tipped over and became partially submerged during its launch ceremony in the eastern port city of Chongjin last Wednesday, sustaining damage to its hull. Attending the event, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un decried the accident as an intolerable "criminal act," blaming it on "absolute carelessness" and "irresponsibility" and ordering the ship's restoration within June. As part of the investigation into the accident, North Korea summoned the manager of the Chongjin Shipyard on Thursday and detained the shipyard's chief engineer, the head of the hull construction workshop and a deputy manager for administrative affairs Saturday. The KCNA said that work to restore the balance of the warship is actively under way at the accident scene under the technical guidance of an expert group and in accordance with the schedule. (Yonhap)
See - Sada Elbalad
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Rihanna Breaks 3-Year Hiatus with "Friend of Mine" Song for "Smurfs" Soundtrack
Yara Sameh It has taken years, but Rihanna finally released a new song Friday — 'Friend of Mine,' for the upcoming Smurfs movie in which she voices Smurfette. Featuring the Fenty mogul singing over a happy-sounding Afrobeats-inspired dance track, complete with warm synths and rhythmic drums. A snippet of 'Friend of Mine' was first premiered in a trailer for the Smurfs film two days prior to the song's release, showing Ri's animated blue character singing and dancing to the track in Smurf Village. 'Friend of Mine' will appear on the Smurfs soundtrack, along with DJ Khaled, Cardi B and DESI TRILL's 'Higher Love,' which dropped in February. Tyla is also set to contribute music to the film, which hits theaters July 18. Also starring John Goodman, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Sandra Oh and more, the new Smurfs will follow the residents of Smurf Village banding together to rescue Papa Smurf after he is captured by an evil wizard. In addition to voice acting and recording a song for the project, Ri also served as a producer. When announcing the film back in 2023 at CinemaCon, Rihanna — who was then pregnant with her second son, Riot Rose — told the crowd, 'I get to show up in my PJs in my third trimester … I hope this gives me cool points with my kids one day.' The superstar is now going to be a mother of three, with Rihanna debuting her baby bump at the 2025 Met Gala on May 5. She and partner A$AP Rocky are also parents to their oldest son, RZA. 'Friend of Mine' marks Ri's first release since 2022's 'Lift Me Up' for the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack. She dropped her last album "Anti" in 2016. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
