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Reclusive North Korea dismisses key aide to leader Kim, South says

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO - North Korean member of the State Affairs Commission Kim Won Hong's profile picture is shown in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang June 30, 2016. REUTERS/KCNA/File Photo

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SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has dismissed its minister of state security, considered a key aide to the secretive state's young leader, Kim Jong Un, South Korea said on Friday, following a series of high-level purges.

 

Kim Won Hong was removed from office as head of the top spy agency in mid-January apparently on charges of corruption, abuse of power and human rights abuses, Jeong Joon-hee, South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman, said, confirming media reports.

 

Kim Jong Un became leader in 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, and his consolidation of power has included purges and executions of top officials, South Korean officials have said.

 

Last year, North Korea's vice premier for education was executed for not keeping his posture upright at a public event, South Korea said.

 

It is difficult to independently verify news about top officials in the North, which has angered the West with a series of missile and nuclear weapons tests in defiance of UN resolutions and sanctions. Some previous reports of executions and purges have proved inaccurate.

 

Jeong did not say how the South knew of Kim Won Hong's ouster. But he said there could have been further dismissals in the North where the powerful Organisation and Guidance Department was investigating the ministry of state security.

 

"There is always a possibility that purges continue as part of constantly strengthening power," he said at a regular briefing.

 

North Korea rarely announces purges or executions, although state media confirmed the 2012 execution of Kim's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, widely considered the country's second most powerful leader, for factionalism and crimes damaging to the economy.

 

A former defence minister, Hyun Yong Chol, is also believed to have been executed in 2015 for treason, according to the South's spy agency.

 

It said he was killed with an anti-aircraft gun.

 

Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States.

 

(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Jack Kim; Editing by Nick Macfie)

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-02-03

[jollyhangmon]

... so his days are numbered then.
Well, not really that much sympathy for anyone out of the higher ranks there, to be honest ... 

[Cuchulainn]

I wonder what all those medals are for? 

 

My money's on most of them being awarded for being able to count up to 10, looking both ways while crossing the road, being able to tie a reef knot, doing wheelies, reading a book with few pictures, standing on one leg for 5 minutes, being able to tie a tie and shoelaces, basic first aid, riding a bike with no hands for 100m, swimming an entire length of a pool and ar$e-licking.

 

Oh! And genocide.

[AhFarangJa]

Would not be surprised if it was found he was dogmeat........Like the leaders Uncle......

[Stargeezr]

Darn I got beat on the comment. I was going to say, has this guy

gone to the dogs yet?

Geezer

[muffy]

One bullet could take the dear leader out .

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, Cuchulainn said:

I wonder what all those medals are for? 

Human rights abuses.