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N. Korea's Kim Jong Un Dismisses Vice Premier - 'Like Putting a Goat to Pull a Cart'

Published January 20, 2026, 06:33
N. Korea's Kim Jong Un Dismisses Vice Premier - 'Like Putting a Goat to Pull a Cart'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dismissed his vice premier, Yang Sung Ho, during a visit to an industrial complex. The decision is attributed to Yang's 'inability' to handle economic affairs, with Kim describing him as 'like putting a goat to pull a cart'. Kim expressed his outrage over the difficulties encountered in the first phase of the modernization of the Ryongsong industrial center, which he blamed on 'irresponsible, vulgar, and incompetent' officials. He also lashed out at officials who showed 'defeatism, irresponsibility, and passivity'. This move follows previous warnings from Kim about the need to purge 'bad' elements from the government apparatus. State media reports of 'deviations' from discipline, which may indicate corruption. The dismissal of Yang took place shortly before the first Workers' Party Congress in five years, where the country's main directions and challenges are expected to be presented. This decision marks a new effort by Kim to control and reorganize North Korea's economic policy.