Korea

Kim Jong-un has nuclear chief executed for test delays and tunnel collapse, according to reports

North Korea may have executed the official in charge of its nuclear test site facilities, in the second reported execution of a high-ranking party apparatchik in the space of a week.

Park In-young was the head of North Korea’s Bureau 131, a division of the ruling party’s Central Committee tasked with the supervision of military facilities such as the Punggye-ri underground nuclear test facility and the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.

Citing a defector, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported that he may have been punished over delays to the sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 3. It was reportedly originally planned for the spring but was postponed due to delays in the tunnel construction.