View of platform of an 8 December 2013 expanded meeting of the KWP Political Bureau (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
DPRK state media aired a news item and images of an expanded meeting of the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Political Bureau on 9 December at which Jang Song Taek (Chang So’ng-t’aek), former Vice Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission and Director of the KWP Administration Department was accused of anti-party, counterrevolutionary factional acts,” formally removed from office and expelled from the KWP. Korean Central Television [KCTV] broadcasted an 11 minute report that detailed the Political Bureau meeting’s proceedings, depicted DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju and two other senior officials lambasting Jang and pledging loyalty to Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) and showed Jang being physically escorted from the meeting by Ministry of People’s Security officers. Despite speculation that Jang was arrested at the meeting, the footage only shows that he was escorted out of the meeting’s venue.
Jang Song Taek’s wife, Kim Kyong Hui (Kim Kyo’ng-hu’i), who is a member of the KWP Political Bureau and a KWP Secretary was neither reported nor observed to be in attendance.
Senior DPRK officials observe Jang Song Taek being escorted from the KWP Political Bureau meeting: KWP Finance and Accounting Department Director Han Kwang Sang (1), former Chief of the KPA General Staff and former Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (2), KWP Workers’ Organizations Department Ri Yong Su (3) and former Chief of the KPA General Staff Col. Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Senior DPRK officials observe Jang’s removal from the 8 December 2013 meeting: Joint Venture and Investment Commission Vice Chairman and Senior Deputy Director of the KWP Organization Guidance Department Ri Chol (1) and Deputy Director of the KWP Organization Guidance Department Hwang Pyong So (2) (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Korean Workers’ Party Central Committee Headquarters in Pyongyang (Photo: KCTV screengrab).
Kim Jong Un (2nd R) applauds at the start of a 8 December 2013 expanded KWP Political Bureau meeting (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
View of a conference hall at the KWP Central Committee Office Complex #1 in Pyongyang on 8 December 2013, the venue of an expanded KWP Political Bureau meeting (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
View of the platform (rostrum) of an 8 December 2013 expanded KWP Political Bureau meeting at which Jang Song Taek was removed from office (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Kim Jong Un attends an expanded KWP Political Bureau meeting in Pyongyang on 8 December 2013. Also seen in attendance is Kim Yong Il (L), KWP Secretary and Director of the International Affairs Department (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
KWP Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department Kim Ki Nam reads an official report on Jang Song Taek’s “anti-party counterrevolutionary factional acts” (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Participants with observer status attend an 8 December 2013 expanded meeting of the KWP Political Bureau (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Overview of an 8 December 2013 expanded meeting of the KWP Political Bureau at which Jang Song Taek was accused of “factional acts” and expelled from the party (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Kim Jong Un attends an 8 December 2013 expanded meeting of the KWP Political Bureau. Also seen in attendance are KWP Secretary and Director of Cadres Affairs Kim P’yo’ng-hae (2nd R) and Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang KWP Committee Mun Kyong Dok (R). Mun was a protege of Jang Song Taek’s (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju speaks after a report about Jang Song Taek’s “factional activities” were read during an expanded KWP Political Bureau meeting (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
KWP Political Bureau members raise their hands during an expanded meeting held in Pyongyang on 8 December 2013. Among those in attendance are Ministry of State Security Political Bureau Director Col. Gen. Kim Chang Sop, KWP Civil Defense Department and NDC Vice Chairman VMar Kim Yong Chun, SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop, DPRK Vice Premier Kang Sok Ju and Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Jang Jong Nam (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Jang Song Taek is removed from an 8 December 2013 expanded meeting of the KWP Political Bureau after his expulsion from the party (Photos: KCTV screen grabs).
Kim Jong Un (L) talks to senior KWP and DPRK Government officials after the KWP Political Bureau meeting. In attendance in this image are: VMar Choe Ryong (2nd L), Kim Yong Nam (3rd L), DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (4th L), Kim Ki Nam (5th L), Choe T’ae Bok (6th L) and Pak To Chun (7th L) (Photo: KCTV screengrab).
Kim Jong Un talks to senior KWP and DPRK Government officials after an 8 December 2012 expanded meeting of the KWP Political Bureau (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
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