North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a tree nursery being constructed by the Korean People’s Army in this composite photo released by the North’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on May 29, 2015. The nursery, which covers an area of about 1.98 million square meters, consists of various facilities for nursery tree production. Kim was accompanied by his sister, Kim Yo-jong, who made her first public appearance in 47 days amid rumors of giving birth. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) speaks during a visit to a terrapin farm, in this photo released by the North’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on May 19, 2015. The paper, published by the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, did not report when he made the visit and said Kim reproached the farm’s officials for its poor management. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) inspects a recently remodeled trout farm under the North’s Army Unit No. 580 in the North’s Kangwon Province, in this photo released by the North’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on May 11, 2015. The paper, published by the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, also said Kim examined a cattle ranch under the same Army unit. It was not reported when the photo was taken. (Yonhap)
Since this report comes from the South Korea’s National Intelligence Service I give it a little more credence than reports that come from defectors:
Hyon Yong-chol (circled), minister of North Korea’s People’s Armed Forces, appears to have his eyes closed during an event for military officials presided over by Kim Jong-un (center), held on April 24 and 25, in a photo published by the North Korean daily Rodong Sinmun on April 26. South Korea’s spy agency reported Wednesday that Hyon was executed after possibly being accused of having dozed off late last month. [Rodong Sinmun]North Korea executed its defense chief late last month, South Korea’s spy agency reported Wednesday, the latest chapter in leader Kim Jong-un’s reign of terror.
A firing squad executed the defense minister with an antiaircraft gun, the agency said.
Four-star Gen. Hyon Yong-chol, minister of North Korea’s People’s Armed Forces, was executed around April 30 at a military academy in Pyongyang with hundreds of senior military officials watching, said the National Intelligence Service (NIS), citing multiple sources but refusing to disclose them in detail.
The spy agency said Hyon could have been charged with treason but it was likely that he was executed because he showed some sign of disrespect to leader Kim Jong-un rather than plotting a rebellion.
The NIS said Hyon had expressed dissatisfaction with Kim Jong-un’s governing style, without elaborating further. The agency said Hyon dozing off at a military event held on April 24 and 25 in Pyongyang might have sealed his fate.
In a photo published by the state-run daily Rodong Sinmun on April 26, Hyon appeared to have his eyes closed during an event for military officials presided over by Kim Jong-un, who was seated in the center in the front row. Hyon was seated to Kim’s left. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
You can read more at the link, but it is a good thing that the US military doesn’t have this execution policy when people nod off in hours long meetings because we would not have a military.
Here is the latest from the North Korea rumor mill:
Mr. Park shifts uncomfortably in his seat. As one of the most senior North Korean officials to ever defect, he was preparing to tell the ugly truth about the regime he served faithfully for decades.
This is not his real name; he wants his identity hidden for fear of retribution against friends and family still in Pyongyang. It’s not surprising when you hear what he has to say.
His first allegation is shocking. He claims North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his own aunt, a blood relative, to be poisoned. “On May 5th or 6th of last year,” says Park. “Kim Jong Un ordered his aunt, Kim Kyong Hui to be killed. Only his bodyguard unit, Unit 974, knew this — now senior officials also know she was poisoned.” [CNN]
You can read more at the link, but statements like this from defectors needs to be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism which the media usually doesn’t care about.
In this March 26, 2015 photo, taken by Google Earth, a 550-meter-long, 15-meter-wide runway for light planes lies parallel to an existing train station for only North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’ s use, located near his cottage in Wonsan on the North’s east coast. The Washington-based Radio Free Asia reported on May 8, 2015, that the runway’s construction has been completed. (Yonhap)
Like any of these reports from anonymous sources, treated them with a healthy dose of skepticism because who knows if they are true:
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has demanded that officials “go to South Korea if they have to” to arrest those who defected on his birthday, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA).
The non-profit news outlet quoted internal sources as saying Kim was furious when told that 16 North Koreans defected on February 16.
“During Kim’s birthday, the nation was under a special warning period for defecting, and when reported by his officials, Kim ordered them to send out an arrest squad to catch the ‘fleed family,'” the source was quoted as saying.
The source also said officials were threatened with punishment if they failed to bring back the defectors from North Hamgyong Province. [Korea Times]
