Jang Song-thaek

Jang Song-thaek was a North Korean politician and senior official, and Kim Jong Un’s uncle by marriage. Purged and executed in 2013, he was one of the country’s most prominent officials to fall from power.

Kim Jong Un: Kim Jong Un is North Korea’s supreme leader, in power since 2011. As leader, he ordered Jang’s purge and presided over his execution.
Workers' Party of Korea: The Workers’ Party of Korea is North Korea’s ruling political party. Jang held senior party posts before the party publicly stripped him of authority.
North Korean human rights: North Korean human rights concerns include state repression, political imprisonment, and severe restrictions on civil liberties. Jang’s summary trial and execution exemplified the regime’s coercive treatment of political enemies.
Korean Central Television: Korean Central Television is North Korea’s state television broadcaster. Its footage of Jang being escorted from a party meeting made the purge publicly visible.
Kim Kyong-hui: Kim Kyong-hui is Kim Jong Il’s sister and a former senior North Korean official. She was Jang’s wife and a powerful member of the ruling family.
Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea: The Politburo is a senior decision-making body of the Workers’ Party of Korea. A televised Politburo meeting showed Jang being removed from his position.
Political repression in North Korea: Political repression in North Korea includes surveillance, punishment, and detention used to control dissent and elites. Jang’s fate demonstrated that high rank offered no protection from political repression.
Korean Central News Agency: The Korean Central News Agency is North Korea’s state news agency. It announced Jang’s conviction and reported the regime’s accusations against him.
Kim Jong Il: Kim Jong Il led North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011. Jang rose to influence under Kim Jong Il and helped prepare the leadership transition.
State Security Department: The State Security Department is North Korea’s political police and internal security agency. The regime’s security apparatus arrested Jang before his trial and execution.

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North KoreaRelated: His fall demonstrates the risks faced by even powerful figures within the regime.