North Korean defence minister executed, South Korean intelligence reports

NORTH Korea’s Defence Minister apparently fell asleep during a speech and talked back to Kim Jong-un. His punishment was extreme.

(FILES) This undated file photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 26, 2014 shows North Korean Defense Minister Hyon Yong-Chol who was then-elected member of the National Defense Commission at the 2nd Session of the 13th North Korean Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang. North Korean Defence Minister Hyon Yong-Chol has been executed by anti-aircraft fire for disloyalty and showing disrespect to leader Kim Jong-Un, South Korea's intelligence agency said on May 13, 2015. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT -- AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE, AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

NORTH Korean Defence Minister Hyon Yong-Chol has been executed by anti-aircraft fire for disloyalty and showing disrespect to leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea’s intelligence agency said.

Hundreds of officials watched Hyon’s execution on April 30, Han Ki-Beom, the deputy director of the National Intelligence Agency (NIS), told a parliamentary committee, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Hyon, who was appointed to the post of Minister of the People’s Armed Forces less than a year ago, was apparently caught dozing off during formal military events and also talked back to Kim Jong-un on several occasions, Yonhap said.

The Yonhap report was based on a briefing by a ruling Saenuri party politician who attended the parliamentary committee meeting.

Han told the committee that Hyon was executed with anti-aircraft fire — a method cited in various unconfirmed reports as being reserved for senior officials who the leadership wishes to make examples of.

In North Korea, the defence minister is mainly in charge of logistics and international exchanges. Policymaking is handled by the powerful National Defence Commission and the party Central Military Commission.

The reports state North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the killing for a lack of respect. Picture: KCNA.