North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) fired a vice premier during an inspection of the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, state media reported Tuesday. Photo by KCNA/EPA
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un abruptly dismissed a vice premier during a factory inspection, state media reported Tuesday, in a rare public rebuke that comes as the country prepares for a key ruling party congress.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim fired Vice Premier Yang Sung Ho “on the spot” while presiding over the inauguration of the first stage of a modernization project at the Ryongsong Machine Complex on Monday.
Kim accused Yang and other economic officials of being “irresponsible, rude and incompetent,” saying delays and “man-made confusions” in the project had caused economic losses and setbacks.
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, located in South Hamgyong Province, is a key heavy-industry plant that produces machine tools and equipment for factories nationwide. It has been highlighted as part of Kim’s broader push to strengthen North Korea’s machine-building sector, which he has repeatedly identified as central to economic self-reliance.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Kim said he had sharply criticized Yang at a ruling party plenary meeting in December and had monitored his conduct afterward.
“To my surprise, watching how he was behaving himself later, I found him unaware of his responsibility at all,” Kim was quoted as saying.
“Here today, you are dismissed, comrade vice premier,” the North Korean leader declared.
The public firing of a senior official is uncommon in North Korea and appears intended to reinforce discipline among economic managers ahead of the upcoming Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.
The congress, which is widely expected to be convened in January or February, is seen as a venue for the leadership to review policy performance, announce a new five-year economic plan and signal shifts in military and foreign policy priorities.
Kim has inspected weapons factories and military facilities in recent weeks, underscoring the regime’s parallel focus on defense and industrial production ahead of the congress.
At a key ruling party meeting last month, Kim pointed to what he called “shortcomings and evil practices that must be corrected,” language analysts say may precede personnel reshuffles.
