Kim Jong Un a New Dad: Report

Wife Ri Sol Ju said to have given birth to baby last year
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 4, 2013 10:18 AM CST
Kim Jong Un a New Dad: Report
In this July 25, 2012 file photo, Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju, waves to the crowd as they inspect the Rungna People's Pleasure Ground in Pyongyang, North Korea.   (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service, File)

Apparently Kim Jong Un has an heir. According to the Washington Times, South Korea's government has confirmed Kim's wife secretly gave birth to a child late last year. Rumors of Ri Sol Ju's pregnancy had swirled for months; apparently when it comes to future communist dictators, intelligence analysts are as interested in baby bumps as your typical paparazzo, and they spotted the aforementioned bump in October.

The gender is still unknown, but one North Korea watcher notes, "If it was a boy, [Pyongyang] would have made an announcement." Ri is a high-profile first lady, often seen wearing pricey jewelry and clothes in public; by contrast, Kim Jong Il's wives were rarely seen in public. Ri is seen as someone who has quite a bit of influence on her husband, and could wield her own political power in the future. (Perhaps Dennis Rodman met the baby while he was partying at Kim's place?)

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