This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25295312
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| N Korea confirms removal of powerbroker Chang Song-thaek | N Korea confirms removal of powerbroker Chang Song-thaek |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| North Korea has confirmed that Chang Song-thaek, a powerful uncle of North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un, has been dismissed from his post. | North Korea has confirmed that Chang Song-thaek, a powerful uncle of North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un, has been dismissed from his post. |
| Mr Chang had committed "criminal acts", according to the state-run KCNA news agency. | Mr Chang had committed "criminal acts", according to the state-run KCNA news agency. |
| He was seen as an economic reformer and regularly handled talks with China, Pyongyang's only major ally. | He was seen as an economic reformer and regularly handled talks with China, Pyongyang's only major ally. |
| His removal is the biggest upheaval in North Korea's leadership since Mr Kim succeeded his father, analysts say. | His removal is the biggest upheaval in North Korea's leadership since Mr Kim succeeded his father, analysts say. |
| Two of his close aides have been executed for corruption, according to earlier South Korean reports. | Two of his close aides have been executed for corruption, according to earlier South Korean reports. |
| KCNA said the decision had come after a meeting of the politburo of the ruling communist Korean Workers' Party. | |
| "The Chang Song-thaek group... committed such anti-party, counter-revolutionary factional acts as gnawing at the unity and cohesion of the party," said reports carried in state media early on Monday. | |
| "Chang pretended to uphold the party and leader but was engrossed in such factional acts as dreaming different dreams and involving himself in double-dealing behind the scenes." | |
| On Saturday, North Korean state TV was reported to have removed footage of Mr Chang from a documentary. | On Saturday, North Korean state TV was reported to have removed footage of Mr Chang from a documentary. |
| He had held senior posts in the ruling party and the National Defence Commission, the North's top military body. | |
| Past disappearance | |
| Kim Jong-un took over after Kim Jong-il died in 2011. Mr Chang is married to the elder Kim's sister. | |
| He has often been pictured beside Kim Jong-un and was seen by some observers as the power behind the throne. | |
| Despite his family ties to the leadership and senior status, he has been targeted in purges in the past. | |
| In 2004, despite his place in the Kim family, he disappeared from public view. | |
| One report at the time, citing South Korean intelligence, said Mr Chang had been placed under house arrest. | |
| Others suggested he had been sent for "re-education". However, two years later he appeared to have been reinstated. |