North Korea's Minister Of Defense Executed With Anti Aircraft Gun

2015-05-13T21:48:16-04:00

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un had his defence minister executed with anti-aircraft fire for insubordination and dozing off during a formal military rally, South Korean intelligence said Wednesday, hinting at possible instability in the Pyongyang leadership.

If confirmed, it marks another demonstration of Kim's ruthlessness in dealing with even the most senior officials suspected of disloyalty, following the execution of his uncle and one-time political mentor Jang Song-Thaek in 2013.

It also points to possible power struggles within the top leadership, following Kim Jong-Un's decision to cancel a scheduled visit to Moscow last week in order to deal with "internal issues".

Late last month, the South's National Intelligence Agency (NIS) reported that Kim had ordered the execution of 15 senior officials so far this year, including two vice ministers, for questioning his authority.

In a briefing Wednesday to a parliamentary committee, Han Ki-Beom, the deputy director of NIS, said hundreds of people witnessed the execution of defence minister Hyon Yong-Chol, which was believed to have been carried out around April 30 at a military academy in northern Pyongyang.

Han told lawmakers that intelligence sources suggested Han was shot to pieces using an anti-aircraft gun firing 14.5mm calibre rounds.

Such a violent method of execution has been cited in various unconfirmed reports as being reserved for senior officials who the leadership wishes to make examples of.

Last month, the US-based Committee for Human Rights in Korea published an October-dated satellite image of the same academy that analysts said showed a shooting range with anti-aircraft guns lined up in what appeared to be preparation for an execution.

Responding to the NIS report, Seoul's Unification Ministry said North Korea was under a "reign of terror" aimed at consolidating Kim Jong-Un's undisputed leadership.

The details of the NIS briefing were relayed to local reporters by lawmakers who attended the parliamentary committee.

The NIS told the committee that the minister had been arrested for expressing dissatisfaction with Kim's leadership, repeatedly ignoring his orders and dozing off during a rally that Kim presided over.

Yang Moo-Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said Hyon's reported purge and execution were a shock.

"Hyon was seen as one of the three closest military officials to Kim Jong-Un," Yang told AFP.

Hyon had visited Russia in April -- partly to pave the way for Kim's scheduled trip to Moscow to attend a May 9 parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Yang speculated that the minister might have botched his mission, amid reports that he had been tasked with brokering a weapons deal in return for Kim's presence at the Moscow event.

Kim cancelled his attendance just days before the parade, citing "internal North Korea issues".

- Politically frustrated? -

"An inexperienced leader like Kim can often display a tendency for overtly dramatic and brash moves... and for me the situation looks quite worrisome," Yang said.

"It also suggests Kim is politically frustrated," he added.

Since taking over power in North Korea following the death of his father, Kim Jong-Il, in December 2011, Kim Jong-Un has repeatedly reshuffled his senior military leaders.

His most high-profile purge to date has been that of his once powerful uncle Jang Song-Thaek, who Kim condemned as "factionalist scum" following his execution.

The NIS has a patchy record with its intelligence reports on North Korea, which have sometimes missed key events or reported others later revealed to be false.

Cheong Seong-Chang, a senior analyst with the Sejong Institute think-tank in Seoul, said the NIS had been "rash" in reporting Hyon's execution on the basis of what he deemed "shaky, unconfirmed intelligence."

"It needs to be verified, but is already being reported as fact by the media which only adds to the confusion," Cheong said.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 9:49 PM

2015-05-13T21:49:35-04:00

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 9:50 PM

2015-05-13T21:50:18-04:00

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made May 13 at 2015 11:17 PM

2015-05-13T23:17:13-04:00

Kim is violating the first rule of authoritarian rule. Keep your military happy with you. I suspect a coup is brewing.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 13 at 2015 11:18 PM

2015-05-13T23:18:00-04:00

I guess that crazy ran fast and hit hard in that family, all three were f'n crazy. Like father, like son, like grandson. I guess.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 13 at 2015 11:30 PM

2015-05-13T23:30:41-04:00

Sorry... SGT Private RallyPoint Member , but the headline made me laugh out loud...

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made May 13 at 2015 11:34 PM

2015-05-13T23:34:33-04:00

Hard Core! North Korean shares of Starbucks stock should skyrocket!

Response by SCPO John Croix made May 13 at 2015 11:36 PM

2015-05-13T23:36:56-04:00

You snooze you loose

Response by Capt Ron Sherlock made May 13 at 2015 11:52 PM

2015-05-13T23:52:36-04:00

I think the dozed off bit is a cover story for the execution used to motivate their senior staff. I wonder how the North Korean military members gets all that heavy decoration when their last war was with us 62 years ago. Do they get one medal for each defector they shoot? We have Privates with more combat experience than most of their Generals.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 12:03 AM

2015-05-14T00:03:56-04:00

On a side note, they need to start using devices to represent multiple awards. I counted at least six medals duplicated on his uniform. He has seven of one medal.

Response by PFC Alex Rivers made May 14 at 2015 2:39 AM

2015-05-14T02:39:36-04:00

AA gun is quite the step up from a firing squad.

Response by SFC Charles S. made May 14 at 2015 3:06 AM

2015-05-14T03:06:51-04:00

North Korean Generals Before and after Awards for not falling asleep.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 5:28 AM

2015-05-14T05:28:53-04:00

How many people can say that they were shot with an Anti Aircraft gun?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 8:16 AM

2015-05-14T08:16:19-04:00

Man, what a way to go! All in! Go big or go home.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 9:42 AM

2015-05-14T09:42:52-04:00

Going out with a bang. If you're going to check out, this is one hell of a way to do it. Executed by a maniac in a hail of anti-aircraft fire. I'm adding that one to the ways in which I would like to die.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 6:21 PM

2015-05-14T18:21:26-04:00

Some mercenary needs to take that fat cheeto-eating child out.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 6:52 PM

2015-05-14T18:52:01-04:00

The NK's must've been running low on starving dogs (for those who don't know, that was the execution method for Kim Jong Un's uncle last year).

I think that this portends trouble in the hierarchy. How many leaders need to be purged before the rest figure out Un is nuts? I'm thinking his days are numbered.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 14 at 2015 10:05 PM

2015-05-14T22:05:53-04:00

CEOs of Chinese Corporations who screw up will get executed as well. Maybe they can use a tank to diversify the methods.

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made May 14 at 2015 10:39 PM

2015-05-14T22:39:33-04:00

He has alot of fruit salad. False valor?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 10:42 PM

2015-05-14T22:42:05-04:00

At least it was quick and painless! A lot more agony and trauma for the spectators!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 1:03 AM

2015-05-15T01:03:40-04:00

To me the really bad part about all this stuff from n korea about execution by half starved dogs or anti air guns is this. Whether it is true or not, when you hear this stuff you think "N korea ? Yeah i could see that happening "

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Feb 14 at 2020 4:12 PM

2020-02-14T16:12:04-05:00

That's a little extreme.