South Korean media reported Wednesday that its Communist northern neighbor North Korea had its own army chief of staff executed.
Ri Yong Gil is one of the most senior officials to have been reportedly killed through purging, as young dictator Kim Jong-un continues to consolidate power, according to BBC News.
Kim is the third generation member of his family to lead the secretive Communist dictatorship. He took over the family business in December 2011 when his father Kim Jong-il died.
Ri was accused by North Korean officials of engaging in corruption, according to USA Today. Reuters has been unable to independently verify the execution of Ri due to the opaque nature of the North Korean regime.
When Reuters reporters asked South Korea’s National Intelligence Service for comment on the situation, the organization declined. South Korean news agency Yonhap also refused comment about its sourcing for its story.
The news of a potential high-level purging comes fresh off the heels of a rather rough week for the hermetic dictatorship. Last week, North Korea was embroiled in controversy for stating it would test out a rocket — which it did on Sunday — as part of the country’s space program. Many in the international community saw this as a front for testing a long range rocket.
The North Korean rocket test lead to military cooperation and preparation between the United States, Japan and South Korea, according to Reuters UK. All three countries are now working on how to best sanction North Korea for so brazenly disregarding international law.
China also forcefully discouraged such actions, and is the only ally of the secretive country, according to ABC News.
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