North Korea publicly executes defense minister, says S. Korean intelligence
North Korean defense minister Hyon Yong-chol was killed in front of hundreds of spectators for a variety of offenses, according to South Korea's spy agency. He was the fourth defense minister in 2-1/2 years.
A man watches a TV news program reporting that North Korean People's Armed Forces Minister Hyon Yong-chol was killed by anti-aircraft gunfire, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday.
Lee-Jin-man/AP
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North Korea鈥檚 defense minister was reportedly executed for disloyalty and showing disrespect to leader Kim Jong-un, according to South Korea鈥檚 intelligence agency. The move underscores the young ruler鈥檚 drive to consolidate power, analysts say, but could also be a sign of instability in Pyongyang.
The People's Armed Forces Minister Hyon Yong-chol was killed in front of hundreds of spectators at a shooting range on the Kanggon Military Training Area in late April, according to reports from a South Korean National Intelligence Service briefing. Intelligence reports on North Korea鈥檚 activities always have to be treated with a degree of skepticism due to the nation鈥檚 secretive and closed-off nature. A recent report from the US-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, however, stated that satellite imagery of the area, just outside Pyongyang, the account.
Military leadership has been in flux since Mr. Kim rose to power in 2011 after his father鈥檚 death. Mr. Hyon was the 聽hold the defense portfolio in 2-1/2 years, according to The Wall Street Journal. During the two-decade tenure of Kim Jong-il, Kim鈥檚 father, the military chief changed only three times.
Experts suggest the reshuffling could reflect Kim鈥檚 increasing demands on officials who are strapped for resources and come up short.
鈥淭he common assumption is that , but I鈥檓 not so sure,鈥� Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in Seoul, told Reuters. Instead, the motivation may be to encourage loyalty from others.
But such changes in leadership have not been confined to military chiefs 鈥� nor have high-profile executions. Kim has changed the director of military operations, a position that controls conventional military forces, six times since coming to power. He allegedly executed his uncle in 2013 for treason, and last month, South Korean intelligence reported that 15 senior North Korean officials were also executed, reports the Associated Press.
Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University in Seoul, said Kim appears to be using purges to check the military old guard, which may pose the only plausible threat to his rule. Koh said Kim could be pushing a "reign of terror" to solidify his leadership, but those efforts would fail if he doesn't improve the country's shattered economy.
鈥淭his is indicative of Kim Jong-un's impulsive decision-making and a sign that he is not feeling secure鈥�. Ultimately, this is confident in his job,鈥� Michael Madden, an expert on the North Korean leadership and contributor to the 38 North Think Tank, told the BBC.
If Kim鈥檚 purges continue, the regime could 鈥渞each its limit,鈥� Mr. Koh told Reuters. "But it's still too early to tell."聽