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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (File Photo) |
By Tae-jun Kang
South Korea’s NIS allegedly told lawmakers Hyon Yong-chol was executed via anti-aircraft gun.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) recently told local lawmakers that North Korea executed its defense chief, Hyon Yong-chol, in late April. Hyon was executed by anti-aircraft fire in front of other high-level North Korean officials, NIS said, according to the legislators. Hyon was charged with treason, including being disrespectful to top leader Kim Jong-un and falling asleep during an event in which Kim participated.
However, some South Korean analysts question authenticity of the report. As evidence against the story, they point out that Hyon can still be seen in material from North Korean media outlets. In North Korea, it is highly unusual for officials to still appear in government propaganda after being removed from power.
Jeong Sung-jang, a senior researcher at Sejong Institute, said in an email sent out to reporters that in other cases of high-level purges in North Korea, such as the ousters of Jang Song-thaek and Ri Yong-ho, the former officials’ names and photos were removed from state media within a week. If Hyon had truly been purged, analysts would expect the same thing to have happened to Hyon. Jeong noted, however, that Hyon appeared on North Korean TV between May 5 and 12. Hyon’s name also can be found in North Korea’s state newspapers.
Read the full story at The Diplomat