North Korea Executes Army Officer “Ri Yong Gil”
KABUL: (MEP) North Korea has executed a senior military leader Ri Yong Gil, over “factionalism” misuse of authority and corruption, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
The general, Ri Yong-gil, chief of the North Korean Army’s general staff and ranked third in its hierarchy, execution comes amid heightened tension surrounding isolated North Korea after its Sunday launch of a long-range rocket, which came about a month after it drew international condemnation for conducting its fourth nuclear, the source said Wednesday.
However, officials declined to give further details on how or when General Ri was executed. Ri was appointed to the position in 2013.
The official agreed to confirm the execution, only on the condition of anonymity because the information involved government intelligence. Although South Korea’s National Intelligence Service did not confirm it, many South Korean news outlets reported that General Ri had been executed, citing an unidentified intelligence source.
Ri’s execution is the latest in a string of high-profile officials that have been purged in a dramatic fashion.
