North Korea publicly executed two officials in early August for disobeying leader Kim Jong Un, a South Korean newspaper has reported, in what would be the latest in a series of high-level purges under the young leader’s rule, if confirmed.
Kim took power 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.
Reports are that former agriculture minister Wang Min and Ri Yong Jin, a senior official at the education ministry, had been executed. The report of the executions comes soon after the South said North Korea’s deputy ambassador in London had defected and arrived in the South with his family, dealing an embarrassing blow to Kim’s regime.
North Korea rarely announces purges or executions, although state media confirmed execution of Kim’s uncle and the man widely considered the second most powerful man in the country, in 2012 for factionalism and crimes damaging to the economy.
A former defense minister, is also believed to have been executed last year for treason.
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