{"id":4187,"date":"2019-05-03T14:47:30","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T05:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4187"},"modified":"2019-05-17T17:43:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T08:43:40","slug":"executions-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2019\/05\/recommendations\/executions-rumors\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e \u201cInformation was sold beforehand to the Americans\u201d...Rumors Spread of Executions as Regime Shifts Responsibility for Failed Hanoi Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo) Jang Song-thaek, who was sentenced to death and executed. Taken in December 2013 (Rodong Sinmun)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 They say the reason for failure was that \u201cInformation was sold to the Americans before the summit\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n

Rumors are spreading across North Korea. Reportedly, 4 foreign ministry officials, held responsible for the failure of the Hanoi summit in late February, were executed by firing squad in Pyongyang in April. It is not clear whether or not the executions actually took place but rumors of such are widespread, not only in Pyongyang, but in the provincial cities as well. (Kang Ji-won\/ISHIMARU Jiro)<\/p>\n

A North Korean trade official who was visiting China from Pyongyang in mid-April told a Chinese reporting partner for ASIAPRESS, \u201cI heard that 4 foreign ministry officials, held responsible for the failure of the Trump meeting, were shot to death.\u201d He added, however, that there were no details and that it was \u201cnothing more than rumors\u201d.<\/p>\n

On April 22, a reporting partner living in a city in North Hamkyung Province also gave related information. This time there were more specifics.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey say the executions took place in Pyongyang in early April when a total of four people, including an official from the North Korean embassy in Hanoi and a foreign ministry official were shot in front of a gathering of officials from the Central Party and the Ministry of People\u2019s Armed Forces. The Hanoi embassy official had sold information from our side to the Americans before the summit took place. The talks ended in failure because Trump knew the information in advance,\u201d the reporting partner said.<\/p>\n

The reporting partner explained how they had come across the information, saying, \u201cIn the city where I live, several officials were talking about the execution of a Foreign Ministry official. It seemed as if they were doing so on purpose- it even feels like the authorities are spreading information about the shooting intentionally. It's on the lips of lots of ordinary people.\u201d<\/p>\n

What has been the public response to this information?<\/p>\n

According to the reporting partner, people are asking, \u201cIf they were executed, how important was the material that was handed over?\u201d There are also some people who question the information, asking, \u201cWas it 4 people rather than one who turned sides?\u201d<\/p>\n

Next page : Is the motive to pass the buck for the failure of the summit?\u2026 <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25c6 Is the motive to pass the buck for the failure of the summit?<\/h2>\n

Almost identical information appears to be spreading in other cities. On April 23, a reporting partner in Hyesan City, Yanggang Province was asked if they too had heard news of the executions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat rumor is also being told in Hyesan City. I heard that 4 foreign ministry officials were shot dead for receiving money from America for information ahead of the failed summit.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the general assembly of the Workers' Party Central Committee and the Supreme People's Assembly, which was held on April 11, there was no clear indication that the Foreign Ministry would be sidelined from further negotiations. In addition, it is not known at present whether or not the executions were actually carried out. However, the name of North Korea's special U.S. representative at the Hanoi summit, Kim Hyuk-chul, has disappeared from the record.<\/p>\n

An atmosphere of disappointment spread across North Korea after the collapse of the Hanoi summit, with the goal of easing economic sanctions not being met. In order to minimize perceptions of Kim Jong-un's negotiation failure and shift the responsibility, the authorities may be intentionally disseminating rumors of treachery by a foreign ministry official.<\/p>\n

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