North Korean leader's uncle 'executed over corruption'

[webfact]

North Korean leader's uncle 'executed over corruption'

The once-powerful uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been executed after being purged for corruption, state news agency KCNA reports.

Chang Song-thaek was dramatically removed from a Communist Party session by armed guards earlier this week.

It was the biggest upheaval since Mr Kim succeeded his father two years ago.

KCNA said Mr Chang had admitted at a military trial on Thursday to attempting to overthrow the state, and was executed immediately.

Mr Chang, who had mentored his nephew during the leadership transition from Kim Jong-il to his son Kim Jong-un in 2011, was "worse than a dog", said the agency.

He had admitted abusing his positions of responsibility to form a faction against the state and to harbouring his own political ambitions, it said.

Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25359939


-- BBC 2013-12-13

[terryp]

sounds similar to the Desert Rat

[noikrit]

Well how busy would they be here then ....

[jpinx]

Just how barbaric can humans be ?

[meatboy]

thailand better prepare for an influx of koreans.

[Mosha]

Defence lawyers must starve in NK, what with no appeal process.

[DonThaiToMe]

Isn´t this what Suthep (Kim Jong-un) wants to do to Thaksin (Chang Song-thaek)?

[Confuscious]

"..... had admitted at a military trial on Thursday to attempting to overthrow the state"

"......had admitted abusing his positions of responsibility to form a faction against the state and to harbouring his own political ambitions"

Sounds familiar to me.
Anybody else can notice the similarities between this rant and Suthep's rant?

[Langsuan Man]

Defence lawyers must starve in NK, what with no appeal process.

What makes you think that he even had a defense lawyer for the "trial"

[Nibbles48]

Isn´t this what Suthep (Kim Jong-un) wants to do to Thaksin (Chang Song-thaek)?

No actually.

It is what Thaksin wants to do to Suthep.

Get it right.

[Scott]

Oh, goodness, and my family was all in a snit when aunt Betty and uncle Wilbert didn't come for Christmas dinner one year!

[haroldc]

Well, the death penalty is a bit extreme (aside from issues of morality). But perhaps a minimum sentence of 10 or so years with no possibility in parole would be appropriate for Thailand.

[transam]

Well, the death penalty is a bit extreme (aside from issues of morality). But perhaps a minimum sentence of 10 or so years with no possibility in parole would be appropriate for Thailand.

They would need a prison the size of a province.........

[Somtamnication]

Like an episode of Game of Thrones, but changed to Game of Gimchi.

[otherstuff1957]

I wonder what they will talk about at the next big family get-together?

[transam]

I wonder what they will talk about at the next big family get-together?

AK47's.....................

[belg]

if only they started doing this here, there would be a shortage of politicians and policemen

[Bpuumike]

Defence lawyers must starve in NK, what with no appeal process.

What makes you think that he even had a defense lawyer for the "trial"

Probably no such people

[falangadang]

Isn´t this what Suthep (Kim Jong-un) wants to do to Thaksin (Chang Song-thaek)?

No actually.

It is what Thaksin wants to do to Suthep.

Get it right.

Lets hope that this kind of strict anti-corruption cleansing policy is not what Suthep has in mind for Thailand's political reform.

[lucjoker]

Love to reed that there is at least 1 country where villains get what they deserve,

and this without loosing time.

[Frank James]

This is the kind of quick "justice" a lot of the posters on TV like to call for on a regular basis.

[MantisMan]

Why is it the North Korea and do something about corruption, but Thailand cannot?

[Suradit69]

Love to reed that there is at least 1 country where villains get what they deserve,

and this without loosing time.

"... and this without loosing [sic] time."

Yes nothing says justice like eliminating your rivals by manufacturing accusations against them to make an assassination look like a court-ordered execution.

He probably was a "villain" and had plenty of blood on his hands, but those who engineered his removal are undoubtedly deserving of the same treatment. Hardly a good example of following the "justice delayed is justice denied" maxim.

Why is it the North Korea and do something about corruption, but Thailand cannot?

Yes, you're right. Now there's no corruption in North Korea,

[BlueSkyCowboy]

Well, the death penalty is a bit extreme (aside from issues of morality). But perhaps a minimum sentence of 10 or so years with no possibility in parole would be appropriate for Thailand.

Morality does not exist with this kind of people. One just accepts the risks of being in power

[tingtongteesood]

Recently the island of Tarutao has been used for illegal smuggling of refugees to be used as slaves - this has been well documented by a BBC investigation and it has been done with the approval and bribes paid to the local police there. I say we see a stop to that and turn Tarutao into a penal colony for bad politicians and 'civil servants' including police, army, navy etc. that do bad things like letting slave traders deal under their noses, beating up phone sellers with their gang, being corrupt MP's and being fugitives on the run. I agree, it won't be big enough, but it is a good place to start...

[ianf]

Isn´t this what Suthep (Kim Jong-un) wants to do to Thaksin (Chang Song-thaek)?

If this was meant to be a joke - it wasn't funny.

If it was meant to be a political observation, then maybe the poser has too many glasses of Thai Whisky!

Becuse you cannot compare Kim Jong-un to Suthep. Not even in your wildest dreams.

[Mudcrab]

never a dull moment. Recently Kim had an old girlfriend executed along with her family and associates from what I remember.

[Chicog]

You have to admit though, for a government they're quite dramatic.

The Korean Central News Agency described Jang Song Thaek as a “traitor for all ages” and said he was executed for his alleged “wild ambition to grab the supreme power of our party and state.”

“[D]espicable human scum Jang, who was worse than a dog, perpetrated thrice-cursed acts of treachery in betrayal of such profound trust and warmest paternal love shown by the party and the leader for him,” KCNA reported.

[JulesMad]

I wonder what they will talk about at the next big family get-together?

What family get-together??? There is nobody left...

[richard_smith237]

I wonder how so many are so short sighted...

This is exactly what Starlin did. Anyone close to power was removed, insecurity and fear were key to maintaining power..

It seems the same in North Korea. I very much doubt this Uncle admitted to anything freely.

IMO its clear that a potential future threat to power was removed.