Kim Jong-un has fired dozens of officials for causing a “crisis” in the fight against coronavirus and a battle to combat North Korea’s growing famine.
Victims of the despot’s purge include a member of the politburo’s top standing committee, which only has five members – including Kim himself.
Speaking at a meeting of the ruling Workers’ party last week, Kim accused officials of “causing a grave incident that poses a huge crisis to the safety of the nation and its people”, state news agency Korean Central News Agency said.
Kim had called the meeting to deal with “chronic irresponsibility and incompetence” among the top ranks and criticised officials for “passiveness in planning and executing anti-virus measures amid the lengthening pandemic”.
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In the first half of this year alone, the 37-year-old dictator has taken the unprecedented move of chairing three extended Workers Party meetings.
The state’s official newspaper, the official Nodong Sinmun, has repeatedly published warning messages in recent days.
An article from Sunday said who is a loyal subject “becomes clearer on times of hardship”, while another editorial days earlier warned officials will end up “losers of the revolution” if they fail to maintain discipline.
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“While mistakes made in the process are forgivable, causing critical harm to our party, country and people due to irresponsibility and negligence of duty is never acceptable,” the piece added, reports The Chosunilbo.
A government official told the publication Kim is “pressuring not the North Korean people but high-ranking officials”.
He ordered the creation of a new department earlier this year to focus on snooping out corruption among officials.
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A senior North Korean defector said: “Kim Jong-un is trying to cut off voices of discontent. It looks like the reign of terror will continue to quell internal dissatisfaction and unrest.”
The despot has previously said the state-run economy cannot feed its citizens amid the growing famine, admitting the situation is “getting tense”.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) said the country has just two months worth of supplies left.
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Kim has, however, continued to claim there have been no Covid cases, despite bringing in strict lockdown measures, including border closures and domestic travel restrictions.
It comes after the tyrant reportedly left his people “heartbroken” last month after appearing to have lost a considerable amount of weight amid fears he maybe unwell.
In a bizarre public broadcast about the supreme leader’s health, state media discussed his “emaciated” condition after photos emerged of him looking noticeably slimmer.
“Seeing respected general secretary [Kim Jong Un] looking emaciated breaks our people’s heart so much,” an unnamed man in Pyongyang was quoted as saying.
“Everyone is saying that their tears welled up.”
Reports from South Korea later claimed he secretly attended a health retreat after aides became concerned about his heavy figure following years of gorging.