Uncle of Kim Jong-un - level 3
Jang Song Thaek was considered the second most powerful man in North Korea, a kind of mentor to his nephew and young leader Kim Jong-un, but also considered a threat.
North Korea says he has now been executed. The news revealed on the country’s KCNA agency included claims he was plotting to overthrow Kim and had a “fantastic dream” to become premier.
A special military tribunal of the DPRK ruled he would be sentenced to death, but it’s not known how he died.
Jang was said to be in charge of economic projects but also a number of questionable money-raising schemes. Just days ago he was stripped of his power and position, accused of mismanagement, womanizing and drink and drugs abuse.
Experts in North Korean history say the death suggests Kim wanted to make a point and further centre the regime around himself. The 30-year-old pursuing his father’s nuclear and military ambitions is now being portrayed as the “master builder” of the North to try and revive its economy.
Developments are being watched closely by the West as much as possible but the North remains as secretive as ever.
Difficult words: execute (kill somebody), KCNA (Korean Central News Agency), plot (make a secret plan to harm a person or an organization), premier (first in importance), tribunal (court of justice), DPRK (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), womanize (have sex with a lot of women), drink/alcohol/drug abuse (drinking too much and taking illegal drugs), revive (make strong again).