Recently, it was reported that North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, had removed the top naval commander and another senior figure from official photographs. This decision followed the unfortunate launch of a naval vessel that did not go as planned.
Admiral Kim Myung Sil, who oversees Jeongjin’s shipyards, and Hong Kong Ho were eliminated from the state’s photographic records last month on Kim’s orders. This came at a time when North Korea, struggling to launch a naval destroyer, has faced criticism, as noted by NK News.
In earlier photographs released by state media, the two officials could be seen standing to Kim’s side. In the newly edited images, there’s a conspicuous void where they once stood.
This kind of move brings to mind the tactics of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union, who was known for erasing political adversaries from photos, a practice seen with figures like Nikolai Yezov.
The absence of Myung Sil and Kil Ho in the latest images is quite striking, making their removal all the more apparent.
Kilho faced significant backlash following the failed attempt to launch a 5,000-ton naval destroyer into the Sea of Japan on May 21. Reports indicated that the vessel didn’t fare well during its lowering into the water at Chongjin Port, resulting in damage to the hull.
In the wake of this embarrassing incident, several officials were detained at the shipyard, and it’s believed that Ho was among at least four individuals caught up in this turmoil.
Admiral Sil has held the position of top naval commander since Kim took power in 2011, but that doesn’t guarantee his safety from Kim’s often violent actions.
“If Kim Myung Sil chose to take the blame, he might have spared himself from a public execution and protected his family from imprisonment,” noted Michael Madden, founder of NK Leadership Watch. However, he also suggested that if Kim is looking to assert control, he might gather other military and defense officials for a similar fate.
Interestingly, North Korea successfully launched a substantial destroyer recently, with state media describing it as “persuasive evidence of the rapid transformation of the [North Korean] Navy.”
