Free Republic

(LEAD) N. Korea forecast to suffer severe economic trouble from March: state-run institute 2017/12/18 15:51 (ATTN: UPDATES with more info in last 4 paras) SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Yonhap) -- As the strongest ever international sanctions begin to take effect, North Korea is expected to start suffering from severe economic difficulties around March next year, a state-run think tank said Monday. "In addition to further toughened sanctions, an increase in North Korea's investment in conventional forces in the aftermath of military pressure stemming from the (Korean) deployment of American strategic assets is forecast to hit the North Korean economy seriously sometime...

Has North Korean leader Kim Jong-un executed one of his top aides? By Nicola Smith 14 December 2017 • 3:24am One of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s top aides has disappeared from public life, prompting speculation that he may have been executed. General Hwang Pyong-so was once at the heart of Kim’s inner circle within the Workers’ Party Central Committee. As a Vice-Marshall he also held the most senior military position after the supreme commander. Before he reportedly fell out of favour Mr Hwang was one of only four people pictured standing next to Kim in state propaganda vaunting the...

Kyodo News International October 29, 2014 3:30pm N. Korea's most powerful man after leader Kim may be Choe again North Korea's most powerful man after leader Kim Jong Un may again be Choe Ryong Hae, a secretary of the ruling Workers' Party, an official media report indicated Wednesday. Among senior officials who accompanied Kim's viewing Tuesday of a soccer match, the Korean Central News Agency introduced Choe's name before that of Hwang Pyong So, who had been considered by outside watchers in recent months as the No. 2 man in Pyongyang's power hierarchy.