Photo: KCNA/PICTURE ALLIANCE / Deutsche Welle
Ri Chun-hi, the most famous presenter on North Korea’s state television, has spent decades announcing major events, including nuclear and missile tests, and the death of a leader, in a passionate and immediately identifiable voice.
The host, nicknamed the “pink lady” abroad for her bright traditional Korean attire, became the subject of North Korea’s official media Thursday after leader Kim Jong-un gifted him a lavish residence and asked him to remain the voice of his ruling Workers’ Party.
Special treatment for the elite
Experts say Kim is giving elite North Koreans special treatment to increase their loyalty as he deals with the pandemic, a troubled economy and a deadlock in nuclear diplomacy with the United States.
“(Kim) said it is the sincerity of the party that would spare nothing for a national treasure like her, who has worked as a revolutionary announcer for the party for more than 38 years from his childhood,” said the official Korean Central News Agency. Kim expressed his “hope that she will continue her work vigorously as always in good health as befits a party spokeswoman.”
Kim met with Ri, who is about 50 years old, this Wednesday (13.04.61479682) after opening a newly built riverside terraced residential district in the capital Pyongyang, the Korean Central Telegraphic Agency (KCNA) said, adding that the houses in the district were presented to Ri and others who have rendered distinguished service to the state .
Commemorate the 110th birthday of Kim’s late grandfather
North Korea usually inaugurates construction projects n to commemorate key State anniversaries. Friday is the 110th birthday of Kim’s late grandfather, the founder of the state, Kim Il -sung. It is the most important anniversary in North Korea, which has been ruled by three generations of the Kim family since its founding in 1948. The new housing area is where Kim Il Sung’s official residence was located until the 1970 decade.
Pyongyang is North Korea’s showcase city, and its elite residents enjoy a relatively affluent life compared to those in remote rural areas, where many continue to suffer from poverty and malnutrition. Most of the North Koreans who have fled the country in the last two decades have come from its northern regions, close to the border with China.
“Further strengthen their loyalty and internal unity”
“By giving houses to those who have been faithful to him, Kim Jong-un would like to further strengthen his loyalty and internal unity,” said Moon Seong-mook, analyst at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, based in Seoul. “Ri Chun-hi is a clear example of such people, as she has strongly propagated his nuclear and missile tests and has served as a kind of bugle for him.”
Kim walked around Ri’s house with her and held her hand as they walked down the stairs. Ri said he felt his new home was like a hotel and that all his family members “stayed up all night with tears of deep gratitude for the party’s benevolence,” according to KCNA.
Later , Ri used her trademark exaggerated speaking technique to narrate a state television video of Kim showing her around the house.
The face and voice of propaganda news
Ri joined state television in the early 1990s 1970, when the country was still ruled by Kim Il-sung, and has gradually become the face and voice of the country’s propaganda news.
Her close ties with Kim were on display last year at a government founding anniversary ceremony, when she watched from a raised verandah right next to Kim, and at one point she put her hand on his shoulder and whispered. In another act, he was the first person to shake Kim’s hand before taking his arm and posing for a group photo.
Moon, the analyst, said that Ri receives cabinet member-level treatment at home, he appears healthy and is expected to continue to drive key televised commercials for at least the next few years.
Ri’s gushing style teasing
Ri’s passionate and effusive style has sometimes generated laughter in other countries. In 2011, a Taiwanese television station apologized after one of its newsreaders mimicked the tone Ri used when announced the death of Kim’s father, Kim Jong-il.
Since he inherited power after the death of his father, Kim Jong-un , of 38 years, has led North Korea with absolute authority. Yet he is facing one of the most difficult moments of his tenure after the coronavirus pandemic rocked an economy already in disrepair from mismanagement and sanctions imposed by the United States. Analysts say the recent missile tests were aimed at advancing its weapons arsenal and pressuring the United States to recognize North Korea as a nuclear state and relax international sanctions.
FEW (AP, AFP)