PYONGYANG, Feb. 17 (Sputnik) - Photos released Tuesday by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's state media showed both Kim and Ri smiling while viewing a performance commemorating Kim's father, former Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Il.

The event, held at Mansudae Art Theater in Pyongyang on February 16, comes as the first public event for Ri since accompanying her husband to a Lunar New Year celebration in January 2020.

Yonhap News Agency highlighted that South Korea's National Intelligence Service believes Ri has dialed back her public appearances due to the novel coronavirus.

The state intelligence agency also stated that "no unusual signs have been detected" and said Ri appears to be spending more time with her family. Kim and Ri have at least one child together.

Hong Min, director of the North Korean research division at Korea Institute for National Unification, also told the Daily Star late last month that COVID-19 may be the motivation behind Ri's disappearance from the public eye.

"[Her disappearance] could be due to Covid-19 … As a mother with young children, participating in public activities risks potential infection," he highlighted.