Crimes ‘baffling imagination’ led to the downfall of leader’s uncle
Print Edition
North Korea has censured Jang Song Thaek, uncle of leader Kim Jong Un, for what it described as a slew of criminal acts, confirming the spectacular downfall of the once second most powerful man in the country.
The sacking of Jang for mismanaging the economy, corruption, womanizing and drug-taking comes after South Korean media reports that one of his aides has sought asylum in South Korea.
The unidentified aide, who managed funds for Jang, is being protected by South Korean officials at a secret location in China, cable news network YTN and the Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper said.
Jang was removed from all his posts and expelled from the ruling Workers’ Party during a meeting of its politburo on Sunday, the official KCNA news agency said. Kim Jong Un attended and “guided” the meeting.
North Korean state television showed a photograph of Jang being hauled away from a large conference hall as it reported on the politburo meeting.
“Jang and his followers committed criminal acts baffling imagination and they did tremendous harm to our party and revolution,” KCNA said.
The report did not refer to Jang’s aide, whose defection, if confirmed, would be the most serious for North Korea in 15 years.
The decision to remove Jang was widely reported in North Korea’s media, including on the front page of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper yesterday, in contrast to the dismissal of officials in the past which were almost never reported.
The Rodong Sinmun carried a picture of what it said was the politburo meeting. Jang and Kim Kyong Hui, Jang’s wife, were among 17 politburo members. Neither could be seen in the photo.
But Kim’s aunt, the daughter of North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung, was not in trouble.
The sacking means Pyongyang is undergoing its biggest leadership upheaval since the death in 2011 of former leader Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un’s father.
Among Jang’s senior party and military posts, he was vice chairman of the country’s top military body, the National Defense Commission.
Jang visited Beijing in 2012 on behalf of Kim.
He was also head of the North Korean side of a joint project managing a special economic zone with China.
KCNA listed a series of reasons why Jang was dismissed, including mismanagement of the country’s financial system, corruption, womanizing and abusing alcohol and drugs.
“Jang pretended to uphold the party and leader but was engrossed in such factional acts as dreaming different dreams and involving himself in double-dealing behind the scene,” KCNA said.
“Affected by the capitalist way of living, Jang committed irregularities and corruption and led a dissolute and depraved life.”
Experts say Jang’s removal will help Kim Jong Un consolidate his power base with a group of younger aides. Until he was fired, Jang was widely considered to be working to ensure his nephew firmly established his grip on power.
Jang had been a prominent fixture in many of the reports and photographs of Kim Jong Un’s public activities, but his appearances tapered off sharply this year.
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