North Korea has publicly executed the country's
defense minister after the regime accused him of
treason, disloyalty and disrespect, according to
South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Hyon Yong Chol was killed by firing squad using an
anti-aircraft gun at a military school in front of
hundreds of people in Pyongyang around April 30,
the agency reported, citing a media briefing by the
National Intelligence Service at its headquarters in
Seoul.
Hyon "was purged for lese majeste" because he
was seen "dozing off" during a military event and
"did not carry out Kim's instructions," the agency
said. It wasn't clear what instructions Hyon failed
to carry out.
The intelligence service told politicians that Hyon
was killed by an anti-aircraft gun at Kang Kon
Military Academy - a method cited in various
unconfirmed reports as being reserved for senior
officials who the leadership wishes to make
examples of.
The execution was initially reported by South
Korea's Yonhap news agency, although reports
from North Korea are impossible to independently
confirm.
Hyon is believed to have been a general since 2010
and served on the committee for late leader Kim
Jong-il's funeral in December 2011, before
becoming defence minister.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been
accused of ordering the executions of as many as
15 top officials so far this year.
CNN/Daily Mail
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