North Korean Defence Chief Reportedly Executed
Fresh from causing international condemnation by conducting a rocket launch to put a satellite into space, the North Korean regime has apparently executed the head of its military.
According to the South Korean Yonhap news agency General Ri Young-gil was recently sentenced to death on 'corruption' charges.
Chief of the General Staff for Kim Jong-Un's military since August 2013 he was also facing accusations of using his position and power to 'pursue personal gains'.
Pyongyang have yet to confirm the reports and are unlikely to do so but General Ri is understood to have fallen out of favour with the dictator as early as 2014.
Rumours circulated that he was to be replaced as head of the armed forces by a General Pyon In Son, head of operations for the Korean People's Army.
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In the macabre soap opera that is the world's harshest communist regime, General Pyon was however allegedly executed himself in January 2015 for failing to follow orders.
His death was followed by that of the country's Armed Forces Minister - Hyon Yong Chol mown down with an anti-aircraft gun in front of scores of spectators for falling asleep during a meeting and talking back to Kim Jong-Un.
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Such purges are not unusual in North Korea although General Ri's execution would be one of the most high profile since that of the young dictator's uncle two years ago. Jang Song Thaek was at the time considered by many to be the second most powerful man in the state.
Alluding to his demise Kim told his people he was taking 'resolute action to eliminate factionalist filth' within the ruling Workers' Party.
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