Analysts say the move is designed to inject fear and discipline at a time when Kim must showcase achievements after years of sanctions, pandemic isolation and prioritisation of military development over civilian industry.
Kim has a long record of berating underperforming officials during inspections. However, it is rare for him to dismiss a senior cadre so openly, bypassing party routes and allowing state media to report the incident in detail.
State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday that Kim fired vice-minister Yang Sung-ho while inspecting the modernisation project at the sprawling Ryongsong Machine Complex in the eastern part of the country.
“Comrade Vice Minister, leave on your own while you still can before it’s too late,” Kim told Yang during the inspection, KCNA reported. “I dismiss the vice-minister right here and now.”
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