The event, held on Tuesday and publicised in images released two days later by state media, was widely seen as a tightly choreographed family appearance intended to bolster the country’s domestic and international image.
“This is a choreographed move designed to project an image of an ideal socialist family embodied by the Kims,” Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told This Week in Asia.
Kim’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, was also present but kept her distance, seen standing near aides and playing a background role in support of her brother, sister-in-law and niece.
Notably, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui stood closer to Kim than his sister did, greeting foreign dignitaries including Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora.
