North Korea leader's wife back in public after 2 months

SEOUL (REUTERS) - North Korean state media reported public appearances by the wife of leader Kim Jong-un for the first time in two months on Tuesday amid mounting speculation that she had been chastised for inappropriate conduct or that she may be pregnant.

Ms Ri Sol-ju's once frequent appearances with her husband in public reported in state media had marked the starkest break by the North's leadership from the dour image of Kim's father, Mr Kim Jong-il, who was rarely seen in public with any of his wives.

Ms Ri attended a football match and a musical concert with Mr Kim Jong-un on Monday. Their appearance at the concert "drew a thunderous cheer from the audience", the official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday.

Activities and public appearances in choreographed media reports give rare indications of events inside the reclusive state, which is locked in a stand-off with its neighbours and the West over its nuclear weapons programme.