Kim Jong Un's No. 2 Resurfaces After Mysterious Absence
Being North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's deputy can be bad for your health, as the sudden execution last year of the young dictator's right-hand man has conclusively proven.
So, when Choe Ryong Hae, the senior Pyongyang official assumed to have stepped into the role did not show up for several public events starting last month, speculation was rife that he'd met a similar fate as his predecessor, Kim's uncle, Jang Song Thaek.
Jang and Choe had reportedly been hand-picked by Kim Jong Un's father, the late Kim Jong Il, to ease his son's transition to power.
On Tuesday, there were reports that South Korea was investigating the possibility that the 31-year-old Kim had ordered Choe's removal. The Week reported:
"There is growing speculation that the regime's second most powerful man, Choe Ryong-hae, has been imprisoned and is undergoing interrogation under orders from the young dictator."
"For the past month, Choe has failed to appear at a string of public events where he would normally be standing close to Kim, reports The Times. It is thought the pair might have clashed over the way Choe was running various state-owned businesses."