Reports suggest that North Korea’s military chief, Ri Yong-Gil has been executed by the order of the country’s ruler, Kim Jong-un.
South Korea’s news agency, Yonhap news agency, quoted sources as saying, “General Ri Yong-Gil, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, was killed last week after being accused of corruption and other charges of pursuing personal gains.”
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“Ri Yong-Gil is known to have been faithful to principles, so it appears the North cited (the charges) to justify his execution,” the agency reported quoting another sources.
The general was reportedly killed around the time Kim was chairing a joint meeting of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party and the military.
If true, this execution would have taken place less than a year after Kim Jong-un ordered the killing of his defence minister.
Hyon was killed on 30 April by an anti-aircraft fire in the presence of hundreds of people.
Analysts say this is a sign of the North Korean ruler’s growing nervousness with his own defence forces.
Reuter news agency says that the North rarely issues public announcement related to purges or executions of high-level officials.
A rare official confirmation of a high-profile execution came after Jang Song Thaek, leader Kim Jong Un’s uncle and the man who was once considered the second most powerful figure in the country, was executed for corruption in 2013.