North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has abruptly dismissed a vice premier during a factory inspection, delivering a rare public rebuke as the country prepares for a key ruling Workers’ Party congress.
State media reported on Tuesday that Kim fired Vice Premier Yang Sung Ho “on the spot” while presiding over the inauguration of the first phase of a modernization project at the Ryongsong Machine Complex on Monday. The move is unusual in North Korea’s tightly controlled political system, where senior officials are seldom criticized openly.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim accused Yang and other economic officials of being “irresponsible, rude and incompetent.” He blamed them for delays and what he described as “man-made confusions” during the project’s implementation, saying these failures had led to economic losses and setbacks.
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, located in South Hamgyong Province, is one of the country’s most important heavy industry facilities. It produces machine tools and industrial equipment used by factories across North Korea and has been repeatedly emphasized by Kim as central to his economic strategy.
The modernization of the complex forms part of Kim’s broader push to strengthen the machine-building sector, which he has identified as a foundation for economic self-reliance amid prolonged international sanctions and domestic challenges.
Analysts say the public dismissal may be intended to reinforce discipline among officials ahead of the upcoming party congress, where economic performance and policy direction are expected to be closely scrutinized. The incident also underscores Kim’s willingness to directly intervene and hold senior cadres accountable as he seeks to accelerate industrial development.
Leave a comment