Seoul: North Korean leader's uncle may face imprisonment

The ousted uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be sent to a concentration camp for his alleged factional acts, a South Korean official said Tuesday. Jang Song-thaek, who had long been viewed as the North's No. 2 man and Kim's regent, was dismissed from all posts and expelled from the ruling Workers' Party at a key party meeting presided by Kim on Sunday, according to North Korea's state media. The partys political bureau accused Jang of trying to form a faction, increase his force and build his base as it unveiled a slew of anti-state crimes allegedly committed by Jang and his followers. North Korea branded Jang and his followers as anti-party, counter-revolutionary factional figures and gave a strong indication that they could face severe punishment. Those who are labeled as factional and counter-revolutionary figures "could be sent to a (political) prison camp at the minimum and they could not lead a normal life," said the official who closely monitors developments in North Korea at the Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean affairs. He said it remains to be seen what punishment the North will mete out against Jang and his followers. He said the North could use the latest purge as an occasion to tighten social discipline. He asked not to be identified, citing policy. Also Tuesday, North Korea's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, urged people to swear loyalty to Kim as it called for the establishment of Kim's monolithic leadership. People "should rally around the party central headed by Comrade Kim Jong-un," the newspaper said in an editorial.