North Korea: Military Leader Executed for 'Corruption'
In what could be one of the most dramatic moves that the North Korean government has made in the past weeks, it is said that Kim Jong Un had a top military officer executed for crimes related to corruption.
According to CNN, a South Korean government official who requested to remain anonymous said General Ri Yong-gil was executed for "factionalism, misuse of authority and corruption." While there were no other details given, Ri's execution is one of the latest stints that depict the power and authority that Kim has over his domain.
David Kang, a professor of international relations at the University of Southern California, said "It is another way for Kim Jong Un to show he is in power. He is still young, and still learning who is on his side and who is not."
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The Yonhap News Agency said Ri was appointed in 2013 and faced additional charges of pursuing personal gains — a crime that apparently is unacceptable within the ranks of the North Korean government.
A source told the outlet that Ri was executed last week, and his absence from the joint meeting of the Workers' Party and the military was noted by those who tracked the event. Sunday was a big day for the administration as it was able to pull off the launch of a satellite. Ri was absent during the festivities.
What's more interesting is the list of leaders who attended the activities did not include Ri's name. Kim has immediately replaced him with another top-ranking official, General Ri Myong-su, making a former security minister speculate that Ri Myong-su may have taken over the place of the former chief of General Staff.
Meanwhile, Sunday's rocket launch has become an international issue, after Japan and South Korea claimed that the North pushed through with the alleged satellite launch to cover up for its missile testing.
Analysts have suggested that the type of rocket launched by North Korea has several usages such as an International Ballistic Missile (ICBM), meaning it could possibly encase a nuclear warhead — a possibility that the United States and South Korea are now taking seriously.
