North Korea reportedly executed 15 senior officials who were accused of challenging Kim Jong-un’s authority. Shin Kyung-min, with the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said the executions were confirmed by the South Korean National Intelligence Service.
Those executed include an official with the Ministry of Forestry and the State Planning Commission vice chairman.
As reported by CNN, the Forestry official was accused of complaining about a Ministry of Forestry program. The vice chairman was accused of changing a building design without Kim Jong-un’s permission.
In addition to the 15 senior officials, Kim Jong-un also ordered the execution of four members of North Korea’s Unhasu Orchestra. According to Shin Kyung-min, the musicians were accused of espionage.
According to reports, the South Korean National Intelligence Service confirmed North Korea executed the senior officials and musicians during the month of March.
Kim Jong-un executed 15 top N. Korea officials this year – S. Korea intelligence service http://t.co/QnUejZ9vrt pic.twitter.com/yR6oTuRbD5
— RT (@RT_com) April 29, 2015
As reported by Yahoo , Kim Jong-un often uses government purges, and executions, to emphasize his position of power . Shin Kyung-min explains.
“Excuses or reasoning doesn’t work for Kim Jong Un, and his style of rule is to push through everything, and if there’s any objection, he takes that as a challenge to authority and comes back with execution as a showcase.”
The South Korean National Intelligence Service also confirmed Kim Jong-un’s plan to attend Moscow’s celebration “marking the end of World War Two in Europe.” Russian officials confirmed the North Korean leader was invited to the May 9 event. However, he “has not booked a hotel.”
Shin Kyung-min said the Intelligence Service also confirmed Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, recently married and is expecting a child. As a member of North Korea’s National Defense Commission, Kim Yo-jong serves “as the head of a propaganda unit,” which plans Kim Jong-un’s official events and meetings.
As stated by Telegraph , “the Kim dynasty has ruled reclusive and impoverished North Korea for more than six decades with an iron fist and a pervasive personality cult.”
Unfortunately, Kim Jong-un continues to follow the examples set by his father and grandfather.
#KimJongUn ordered 15 exections this year, South Korea says http://t.co/K3gMcR8GQu pic.twitter.com/Mwkl1FSf7E
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 29, 2015
In 2013, North Korea’s supreme leader accused his own uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, of corruption and treason. Although Kim Jong-un considered his uncle a mentor, he grew suspicious of the man’s intervention in political matters. He eventually ordered Jang Song-thaek’s execution.
North Korea’s execution of 15 senior officials underlines Kim Jong-un’s ongoing quest to maintain absolute power.
[Image via Flickr ]
