New Delhi: Absurdity in North Korea has been routine, be it political, social or cultural. In the latest news coming out of the country, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fired his vice premier publicly. While the Supreme Leader’s outbursts are common and well-known, to fire an official of such high ranking publicly is rare even for North Korea.
Kim Jong Un railed against “incompetent” officials at the opening of a critical factory, state media said Tuesday, where he fired his vice premier. Vice Premier Yang Sung Ho was sacked “on the spot”, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, in a speech in which Kim attacked “irresponsible, rude and incompetent leading officials”. “Please, Comrade Vice Premier, resign by yourself when you can do it on your own before it is too late,” Kim reportedly said.
Taking strict action
Kim Jong Un took this step while touring the opening of an industrial machinery complex on Monday. Kim was seen blasting cadres who for “too long been accustomed to defeatism, irresponsibility and passiveness”. Images released by official North Korean channels show a stern-looking Kim delivering a speech at the venue in Hamgyong Province with workers in attendance wearing green uniforms.
As to firing the vice premier Yang, it was reported by the state media that he was “unfit to be entrusted with heavy duties”. “Put simply, it was like hitching a cart to a goat – an accidental mistake in our cadre appointment process,” it was explained. “After all, it is an ox that pulls a cart, not a goat.”
Subsequent to the firing, Kim Jon Un urged a quick turnaround in the “centuries-old backwardness of the economy and build a modernized and advanced one capable of firmly guaranteeing the future of our state”.
Kim’s authority remains unshakeable
North Korea, which is under multiple sets of sanctions over its weapons programmes, has long struggled with its moribund state-managed economy and chronic food shortages. The country’s leader authoritarian rule continues despite this, and he has been quick to scold lazy officials for alleged mismanagement of economic policy. Despite this, such such a public dismissal is still very rare.
Still it is not totally unprecedented as Kim earlier also publicly dismissed Jang Song Thaek, Kim’s uncle, who was executed in 2013 after being accused of plotting to overthrow his nephew. Such tactics are seen as a ruse by Kim Jong Un to uphold accountability from both his officials and public, and also keep the party officials on their toes. This move by Kim comes at a time when the country is gearing up for its first congress of its ruling party in five years, with analysts expecting it in the coming weeks.
Kim with the current move continues earlier strict crackdowns in North Korea, including the purging and punishment of dozens of party officials for “mega crimes” such as drunken partying and perceived anti-people acts. He reportedly has also sent top Politburo members to ideological re-education. For the general population of North Korea as well, Kim’s regime continues to maintain strict surveillance and carry out brutal suppression of basic human rights, conducting governance with an iron fist, where be it movement or information, everything is curtailed and state mandated.