North Korea: Jang Song-thaek's Aides Executed With Anti-aircraft Machine Guns: Report

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un

Jang Song-thaek's Aides Executed With Antiaircraft Machine Guns: Report
The Huffington Post  |  By Alana Horowitz
Posted: 12/24/2013 2:30 pm EST
http://goo.gl/tlPznT

Shocking new details have been revealed about the execution of Jang Song-thaek, Kim Jong Un's uncle.

The New York Times reports that the Jang's death was the end result of a brutal gun battle between Jang supporters and those of the regime over who controlled key land.

As the Times tells it, Kim's forces were ordered to take back control over important fishing grounds that Jang had previously seized, but Jang wouldn't give it up without a fight. The battle ended in the death of many of Kim's soldiers. Kim was furious and ordered that Jang's top aides be executed.

According to the Times, the two men were killed with antiaircraft machine guns rather than regular guns or rifles.

Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, reported that Kim was “very drunk” when he ordered the death of Jang's men.

Earlier this month, Jang was executed for allegedly committing treason. Jang's death came as a shock to many who believed he was a close confidant to Kim. Jang was accused of corruption and substance abuse, among other crimes that could not be verified by Western media.

For more on the North Korea, head over to the New York Times.