Little is known about Kim Yong Jin, who was last mentioned by North Korea’s state news agency on June 15 when it reported he attended an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s taekwondo federation.
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South Korea’s Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said the government had confirmed the execution of the education official, Kim Yong Jin, “through various channels” but declined to provide details.
David Kang, a professor of worldwide relations at the University of Southern California, told CNN: “It is another way for Kim Jong Un to show he is in power”. Another top official dealing with propaganda affairs, Choe Hwi, was also reportedly put on “revolutionary reeducation” program.
Experts say that North Korean officials are frequently sent for re-education, a process that can sometimes be seen as “corporate training” with some emerging from re-education with higher office while others are demoted.
Rival South Korea, which runs several intelligence organizations mainly tasked with spying on North Korea, has a mixed record on reporting developments in the country.
Another official with the ministry, who wished to remain anonymous, said Kim was killed by a firing squad in July as “an anti-party, anti-revolutionary agitator”.
The mass-selling JoongAng Ilbo newspaper first reported on Tuesday that top figures had been punished, but identified the education official by a different name.
After accidentally dozing off, Ri was taken into custody and interrogated where security agents found evidence of his disloyalty and disrespect towards Kim.
“Kim Yong Chol, head of the Workers” Party United Front Department, was ordered to be “revolutionised”.
“Considering that Kim Yong-chol must be under pressure to show loyalty (to the Kim leadership) upon his return to power, the government is paying close attention to any signs of provocations by the North (commanded by Kim)”, said the official.
North Korea’s deputy ambassador to Britain has defected to the South with his family, the unification ministry said earlier this month.
North Korea rarely announces purges or executions, although state media confirmed the 2012 execution of Kim’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek, widely considered the country’s second most powerful man, for factionalism and crimes damaging to the economy.
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In April a year ago, the country killed then-defense chief Hyon Yong-chol with an anti-aircraft gun because he dozed off during a military event, according to Seoul’s spy agency. The official said Kim Yong Chol was recently reinstated.
