A key member of Kim Jong Un’s inner circle touted as a powerful military figure mysteriously vanished from public life recently, sparking rumors he was executed by a North Korean death squad after allegations of bribery, recent reports indicated. Hwang Pyong-so, a Vice Marshall who held the most senior position in North Korea’s military, hasn’t been seen in public since October 13, sparking rumors of his death. News about Hwang’s troubles within Kim’s regime emerged in mid-November, when South Korea’s spy agency reported the top aide and his deputy, Kim Won-hong, were expelled from the military’s General Politico Bureau and “punished,” Yonhap News Agency reported. The spy agency said it was looking into details about their punishment. Kim Won-hong was reportedly sentenced to one of North Korea’s prison camps.

Source: Punch December 14, 2017 18:56 UTC