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North Korea military head Ri Yong-ho 'relieved of post' | North Korea military head Ri Yong-ho 'relieved of post' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
North Korean military chief Ri Yong-ho has been removed from all official posts, according to state media. | North Korean military chief Ri Yong-ho has been removed from all official posts, according to state media. |
As well as being head of the army, he was vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission and held top posts in the ruling Workers' Party. | As well as being head of the army, he was vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission and held top posts in the ruling Workers' Party. |
In a short statement, the party said Mr Ri had been removed from his posts "because of illness". | In a short statement, the party said Mr Ri had been removed from his posts "because of illness". |
The BBC's Seoul correspondent Lucy Williamson says there is widespread scepticism about that explanation. | The BBC's Seoul correspondent Lucy Williamson says there is widespread scepticism about that explanation. |
The decision to relieve Mr Ri of his duties came at a meeting of the Workers' Party Central Committee politburo on Sunday, state-run news agency KCNA said. | The decision to relieve Mr Ri of his duties came at a meeting of the Workers' Party Central Committee politburo on Sunday, state-run news agency KCNA said. |
The brief report made no mention of a successor. | The brief report made no mention of a successor. |
In Seoul, a spokesman for the Unification Ministry told reporters that the move was "very unusual". | In Seoul, a spokesman for the Unification Ministry told reporters that the move was "very unusual". |
"It's quite a rare case that the North promptly and publicly announced early this morning the outcome of a meeting yesterday, on 15 July. We will keep monitoring closely," Kim Hyung-suk said. | "It's quite a rare case that the North promptly and publicly announced early this morning the outcome of a meeting yesterday, on 15 July. We will keep monitoring closely," Kim Hyung-suk said. |
Key figure | Key figure |
Ri Yong-ho's removal from office has taken many people outside North Korea by surprise. | Ri Yong-ho's removal from office has taken many people outside North Korea by surprise. |
He was seen as having a key role in the recent transition of power in North Korea, from Kim Jong-il to his son, Kim Jong-un. | He was seen as having a key role in the recent transition of power in North Korea, from Kim Jong-il to his son, Kim Jong-un. |
Few people here are taking the regime's explanation of "illness" at face value. | Few people here are taking the regime's explanation of "illness" at face value. |
The statement posted on North Korea's state news agency was short and sparse, giving no details of his condition or any indication of his successor as head of the army. | The statement posted on North Korea's state news agency was short and sparse, giving no details of his condition or any indication of his successor as head of the army. |
Instead, some analysts are reading his removal as a possible political purge - in order to cement Kim Jong-un's grip on the military, or perhaps signalling a rift in the team of senior figures which has encircled the young heir during his six months in power. | Instead, some analysts are reading his removal as a possible political purge - in order to cement Kim Jong-un's grip on the military, or perhaps signalling a rift in the team of senior figures which has encircled the young heir during his six months in power. |
Mr Ri was made army chief three years ago under Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father who died in December 2011 after ruling North Korea for almost two decades. | Mr Ri was made army chief three years ago under Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father who died in December 2011 after ruling North Korea for almost two decades. |
The army chief regularly appeared at state occasions beside Kim Jong-il. | The army chief regularly appeared at state occasions beside Kim Jong-il. |
He was also one of seven top officials to accompany the younger Kim as he followed the hearse containing his father's body at his state funeral. | He was also one of seven top officials to accompany the younger Kim as he followed the hearse containing his father's body at his state funeral. |
Mr Ri was widely thought to be a figure in the inner circle of the new leader and instrumental in helping him cement his position. | Mr Ri was widely thought to be a figure in the inner circle of the new leader and instrumental in helping him cement his position. |
His removal is now being scrutinised by analysts for signs of the direction in which Kim Jong-un, seen as young and inexperienced, will take the country. | His removal is now being scrutinised by analysts for signs of the direction in which Kim Jong-un, seen as young and inexperienced, will take the country. |
The army and Workers' Party are the two primary institutions that bolstered the Kim family dynasty, Robert Kelly, a professor at the Pusan National University in South Korea told the BBC. | The army and Workers' Party are the two primary institutions that bolstered the Kim family dynasty, Robert Kelly, a professor at the Pusan National University in South Korea told the BBC. |
Kim Jong-un did not serve in either of those two institutions which are ''traditional proving grounds and grooming grounds... for the leadership in the system''. | Kim Jong-un did not serve in either of those two institutions which are ''traditional proving grounds and grooming grounds... for the leadership in the system''. |
''So his position is very vulnerable because he does not know the generals and colonels who prop up the state,'' said Dr Kelly. | ''So his position is very vulnerable because he does not know the generals and colonels who prop up the state,'' said Dr Kelly. |
In April North Korea defied international warnings to launch a rocket - an action its neighbours called a long-range missile test that contravened UN resolutions. | In April North Korea defied international warnings to launch a rocket - an action its neighbours called a long-range missile test that contravened UN resolutions. |
The rocket launch failed, and analysts warned that it was not clear whether this would lead to more efforts to demonstrate military might - such as another nuclear test - or strengthen the position of reformers seeking to focus on the economy. | The rocket launch failed, and analysts warned that it was not clear whether this would lead to more efforts to demonstrate military might - such as another nuclear test - or strengthen the position of reformers seeking to focus on the economy. |
South Korea warned earlier this year that Pyongyang appeared to be in the late stages of preparing for a third nuclear test - a claim North Korea has denied. | South Korea warned earlier this year that Pyongyang appeared to be in the late stages of preparing for a third nuclear test - a claim North Korea has denied. |
International talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been stalled since 2009. | International talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been stalled since 2009. |