North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's uncle purged, two aides executed

[jsr]

Source: South China Morning Post

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's uncle, seen as the hardline regime's political regent, has apparently been purged and two associates executed, South Korea's spy agency said yesterday, nearly two years after the young supremo came to power.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) told a parliamentary committee that it believed Jang Song-thaek had been removed from all posts, including vice-chairman of the top military body, the National Defence Commission.

If confirmed, Jang's ousting would mark the most significant purge at the top of the North Korean leadership since Kim Jong-un succeeded his late father, Kim Jong-il, in December 2011.

According to the NIS briefing, Jang was "recently ousted from his position and two of his close confidants - Ri Yong-ha and Jang Soo-kil - were publicly executed in mid-November", lawmaker Jung Cheong-rae said.

Read more: http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1371889/top-north-korea-powerbroker-jang-song-thaek-ousted

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At far right is Ri Yong-ho.

[Turbineguy]

1. Sounds like

that dude's doin' some good old fashion' dictatorin'!

[Archae]

3. But he's a leftist!

And leftists aren't dictators!
(coughcoughMadurophanboiscoughcough)

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. What is the sound of one ax grinding?

[BlueToTheBone]

8. ...

thank you!

[Richardo]

11. bahahahahaha!!

[snooper2]

15. like this, but in North Korea they use a file

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. What a pretzel

your mind must look like. Very confused.

1. Murado was elected
2. Jong-Un is no "leftist" (ie. where are the unions, the free press, women's rights?..)

But logic doesn't seem to be your forte so why am I bothering.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Welp, he's not going to find a big pool of eager applicants to fill those positions, I'm guessing.

The consequences for not pleasing your boss seem a bit severe.

[Marrah_G]

10. yes he will

Sadly the people see him as a godlike figure. The highlight of their lives is to just have the chance to see him or have him attend one of their massive performances. Until you see some actual footage from inside NK it's hard to believe the amount of brainwashing and suffering that goes on. The people don't fight back out of a bizarre mixture of love, worship and fear.

[KinMd]

4. Just more fun times with the Kim family

[Bombero1956]

5. I wonder where they get parts for the Lincoln

It isn't like they can go down to their local Ford dealer or Autozone and buy them.

[Treant]

6. So Thanksgiving

dinner didn't go well, I'm guessing...

[christx30]

9. When young

Kim asks for seconds on yams, you'd better listen!

[applegrove]

13. This guy is scary.

[christx30]

14. No scarier than his father

or his grandfather.
And the aides that he executed were probably themselves responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. Hard to work up much sympathy.

[applegrove]

16. Didn‘t an ex girlfriend get it?

[Ikonoklast]

17. Looks like someone had ambitions greater than being a military flunky.

[Pterodactyl]

18. Commies stink.