North Korea’s first lady, Ri Sol-ju, made a high-profile return to public view after vanishing for over a year, showing up at a new coastal resort opening with her husband, Kim Jong-un, and their daughter. The carefully staged appearance—complete with what looked like a Gucci handbag—seemed designed to reinforce the image of a stable, modernizing regime, even as the country remains deeply isolated.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about a fancy handbag. Ri’s reappearance is a calculated move by the Kim regime to soften its image, both at home and abroad. By showcasing a "normal" family moment (with a dash of luxury), they’re trying to distract from economic struggles and signal continuity—especially as speculation swirls about their daughter’s potential future role. It’s a rare glimpse into the opaque world of North Korea’s elite, where every public gesture is political theater.