North Korea executes defence chief

SEOUL: North Korea executed its defence chief by putting him in front of an anti-aircraft gun at a firing range, Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) told politicians.

It would be the latest in a series of high-level purges since Kim Jong-un took charge.

Hyon Yong Chol, who headed the isolated nuclear-capable country’s military, was charged with treason, including disobeying Kim and falling asleep during an event at which North Korea’s young leader was present, according to South Korean politicians briefed in a closeddoor meeting with the agency yesterday.

His execution was watched by hundreds of people, according to NIS intelligence shared with politicians.

It was not clear how the NIS obtained the information and it was not possible to independently verify such reports from within secretive North Korea.

“The NIS official said it had been confirmed by multiple sources. It is still just intelligence, but he said they were confident,” said Shin Kyoungmin, a politician and member of the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, who attended the briefing.

Experts on North Korea said there was no sign of instability in Pyongyang.

Kim had previously ordered the execution of 15 senior officials this year as punishment for challenging his authority, according to the NIS. – Reuters