The title was not used during the tenure of the second supreme leader Kim Jong Il, who had two estranged marriages and three domestic partners at different times.

The title was revived by the third supreme leader Kim Jong Un, with his wife Ri Sol Ju being the second and incumbent holder.

[1][2][3][4] The position was left vacant under the leadership of the second supreme leader Kim Jong Il, who married twice and had three domestic partnerships at different times.

[citation needed] The third supreme leader Kim Jong Un reestablished the position in April 2018 when Ri Sol Ju, whom he married in 2009,[5][6][7] was elevated from the title of "comrade" to "Respected First Lady".

The promotion occurred ahead of the April 2018 inter-Korean summit, where Ri and South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook were in attendance.