FURIOUS Kim Jong-un is feared to have begun executing navy commanders he deems responsible for the botched warship launch.
Humiliated North Korean tyrant Kim has airbrushed state photos to remove bungling officials – making it seem like they never existed.
KCTVNavy Commander Admiral Kim Myong Sik and shipyard boss Hong Kil Ho can be seen at a gathering when Kim Jong-un inspected the ship[/caption]
KCTVBoth were removed from republished images after the launch failure[/caption]
ReutersA satellite image of the ship covered with a blue tarp after the incident[/caption]
The iron-fist ruler was left red-faced after his 5,000-ton naval destroyer ended up on its side as he branded the disaster a “criminal act”.
Several officials at the northern Chongjin shipyard were arrested after the failure in May as Kim blasted their “absolute carelessness”.
But now the dictator appears to have started purging those he holds accountable after warning their mistake was “never to be forgiven”.
Navy Commander Admiral Kim Myong Sik and shipyard boss Hong Kil Ho have also been erased from pictures of an inspection in a move reminiscent of Joseph Stalin‘s attempts to rewrite history.
Soviet dictator Stalin – despite lack of photoshop in the 20th century – famously got his cronies to remove NKVD (later KGB) chief Nikolai Yezhov from a photo after he fell out of favour and was executed.
Much like Yezhov’s removal from an image beside Stalin, both Kim Myong Sik and Hong Kil Ho have been edited out of photos originally broadcast on state TV on March 8 after Kim viewed the vessel.
Veteran North Korea watcher Michael Madden said it is likely they had both been executed – or are in line for that experience imminently.
Madden, founder of NK Leadership Watch, told The Sun: “The airbrushing of a North Korean official from a state media image like this is a strong indication that the person in question has been executed.
“The intention is to make it as if the person never existed.”
Kim Myong Sik and Hong Kil Ho were among at least four officials arrested at the shipyard after Kim’s prized guided-missile destroyer was damaged as it capsized during its launch on May 21.
They have both been scrubbed from images of Kim inspecting the warship during construction, which have been republished this month.
Madden added: “If Kim Myong Sik fell on his sword, he may have avoided a public execution and saved his family and close associates from imprisonment.
“On the other hand, if KJU is in a message-sending mood then they may gather other top officials in the military and defense industry to watch.
“Admiral Kim Myong Sik has been around as a top navy commander since KJU assumed leadership in 2011.
“But he has had an inconsistent career–even before this he had already been dismissed twice as North Korea’s top navy commander. The third time was not the charm for Admiral Kim.
“This underscores that when North Korea has a high official executed that it is not for a one-off infraction.
“Rather, the view is that the leader and the party have given you many chances to prove yourself.
“By not redeeming yourself you are abusing the trust bestowed on you holding the high office.
“This seems to be the case with Admiral Kim.”
Nikolai Yezhov, right, with Stalin and Molotov in 1937Alamy
He was removed from the image after he was executed in 1938David King
KCTVKim Myong Sik could be seen in an image on March 8 listening to Kim speak at a shipyard[/caption]
KCTVThe commander was later erased from the photo[/caption]
AFPAerial picture of the ship before the accident[/caption]
APKim Jong-un pictured earlier this month at another shipyard[/caption]
Both Kim Myong Sik and Hong Kil Ho were noticeably absent from the relaunch ceremony after being ousted from their respective posts.
Despot Kim saw red when the initial launch embarrassed him on the world stage – accusing those responsible for “severely damaging the [country’s] dignity and pride”.
Satellite images showed the warship on its side beside the launch dock, partially submerged at the stern with its bow resting on the harbour jetty.
North Korea’s implementation of the death penalty has long been condemned by human rights groups.
The nation’s hermetic state means the true number of executions isn’t clear – but defectors have given gruesome accounts.
In February, The Sun reported how dozens of party officials were punished for an embarrassing “drinking spree” that ended in a “major incident” at Ryonggang Hot Springs resort.
Insiders believe this could have involved physical fights, abuse towards staff, cavorting with mistresses and trashing the premises.
It was feared Kim could send his own officials to face the firing squad as a result after wiping the committee off the map.
Last year, North Korea admitted carrying out public executions in a rare admission of its treatment of prisoners.
Executions were ordered for 30 officials in September after Kim accused them of failing to prevent flooding and landslides that killed 1,000 people.
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