Jang Song Thaek

Korean official

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July 16, 2026

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Jang Song-Thaek was a prominent North Korean official and the uncle of leader Kim Jong-Un. Initially, many observers believed Jang would wield significant influence and potentially promote reform within the government after Kim Jong-Il's death in 2011, especially given his role in past regime transitions. However, these assumptions proved incorrect. Jang was accused of treason and, along with his close associates, was purged and executed in late 2013. His execution was reportedly carried out with antiaircraft machine guns, and his name and image were subsequently removed from official records.12

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Kim Jong-Un
Leader of North Korea
…2013 Kim executed his uncle Jang Song-Thaek, saying that he had “removed the scum” from the KWP. Jang was a member of Kim Jong Il’s inner circle and had served as a virtual regent for the younger Kim after his father’s death. Jang’s execution also marked a break with Beijing,…
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…2013 Kim executed his uncle Jang Song-Thaek, saying that he had “removed the scum” from the KWP. Jang was a member of Kim Jong Il’s inner circle and had served as a virtual regent for the younger Kim after his father’s death. Jang’s execution also marked a break with Beijing,…
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North Korea
Kim Jong-Un’s consolidation of power
Photographs of Kim’s uncle Jang Song-Thaek standing directly behind Kim Jong-Un in Kim Jong Il’s funeral cortege led many in China and the West to conclude that Jang would exert significant influence within the new regime. Jang had played a central role in the regime transition after the death…
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Photographs of Kim’s uncle Jang Song-Thaek standing directly behind Kim Jong-Un in Kim Jong Il’s funeral cortege led many in China and the West to conclude that Jang would exert significant influence within the new regime. Jang had played a central role in the regime transition after the death…
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Kim Yo-Jong
Childhood and early life
…Jong Il and his brother-in-law Jang Song-Thaek ensured that Kim Yo-Jong would have a role in the succession, and she began to accompany her father at official functions. The North Korean state media initially did not emphasize Kim Yo-Jong’s presence on these trips, but, by the time of Kim Jong…
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…Jong Il and his brother-in-law Jang Song-Thaek ensured that Kim Yo-Jong would have a role in the succession, and she began to accompany her father at official functions. The North Korean state media initially did not emphasize Kim Yo-Jong’s presence on these trips, but, by the time of Kim Jong…
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