Kim gives North Korea’s most famous newscaster a luxury home

By HYUNG-JIN KIM
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s most famous and distinctive state TV anchor, Ri Chun Hi, has announced the country’s major new events for decades, including nuclear and missile tests and the death of a leader. She became the topic of the official North Korean media herself on Thursday after leader Kim Jong Un gave her a luxurious residence and asked her to continue to serve as the voice of his ruling Workers’ Party. Experts say Kim is providing special treatment to elite North Koreans such as Ri, who is about 79 years old, to boost their loyalty as he grapples with the pandemic, a troubled economy and a stalemate in nuclear diplomacy with the United States.