North Korea is reported to have carried out the latest in a series of high-profile executions. <br /> <br />Army Chief of Staff, Ri Yong Gil, is said to have been expunged for corruption and factional conspiracy. The unverified report comes from neighbouring South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. <br /> <br />North Korea seldom publically announces the executions or purges of high-level officials. One rare confirmation from the secretive state came in 2013 with the execution of Jang Song Thaek, leader Kim Jong-un’s uncle, who was once considered second in command. <br /> <br />According to reports, Army Chief Gil hasn’t been seen publically since January and was not present at Pyongyang’s internationally-condemned satellite launch on February 7. <br /> <br />There have been previous instances of North Korean officials disappearing for extended periods of time, only to resurface at a later date.
