(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) North Korea carried out 15 death executions for senior officials this year, South Korea (Yonhap) News Agency reported on Wednesday.
In January, a vice forestry minister was executed for allegedly complaining about the country's forestation plan, two South Korean lawmakers told reporters after being briefed by South Korea's spy agency in a closed-door parliamentary session.
In March, four members of North Korea's Unhasu Orchestra were also executed on charges of espionage.
The four included the head of the orchestra and he presumed that they were executed for allegedly leaking secrets about Kim's family.
The orchestra has come under media spotlight in South Korea and other countries in recent years as North Korean first lady Ri Sol-ju was a singer for the orchestra.
North Korea has often carried out public executions in what critics say is aimed at instituting a reign of terror to consolidate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's grip on power that he inherited upon the death of his father and long-time leader Kim Jong-il in 2011. (end) mk.mb
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