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The uncle of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has been executed after being charged with disloyalty to the regime.
Jang Song-thaek, was purged from his leadership post for alleged corruption, drug use, gambling and a long list of other “anti-state” acts. Jang Song-thaek was considered second in command of the so-called Hermit Empire.
He was described by the North Korean government in an official statement as a “despicable human scum, worse than a dog”.
Kim Jong Un’s aunt and brother, armed with a pistol, took part in the arrest of Jang Song-thaek with a family affair cited among the causes.
The purge drama was designed by Kim Kyong-hee, Jang's wife, and Kim Jong-un, Lee said. "She has openly expressed to the political bureau members that Jang's power line is a threat to the royal family so she took an obvious choice."
The purge and subsequent execution has placed the world on edge.
"That purge was surprisingly earlier than expected. Kim's been in power for less than two years and he does not yet have a strong political base in the party. North Korea is likely to be unstable for the time being," said Park Chang-kwon, senior research fellow at Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul.
The gambling charges are ironic in that it is the United Kingdom's third largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, that is currently sponsoring former NBA player Dennis Rodman's trip to North Korea.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
