14 DAY TRIAL // Information made public by South Korea's National Intelligence Agency says that, on April 30, North Korea publicly executed Defense Minister Hyon Yong-Chol.
The execution of 66-year-old Hyon Yong-Chol took place at the firing range of a military camp close to Pyongyang, North Korea's capital city, and was witnessed by hundreds of the country's officials.
Defense Minister Hyon Yong-Chol was accused of treason
According to the report produced by South Korea's National Intelligence Agency, Defense Minister Hyon Yong-Chol was executed after having been found guilty of treason, DM informs.
Apparently, he was accused of being a traitor after he dared talk back to North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un on several occasions. It's not clear what he said, but it's obvious that Kim Jong-Un didn't take lightly to his thoughts and opinions.
Apart from these slips-of-the-tongues, it is said that Hyon Yong-Chol made the mistake to fall asleep during a few military meetings. Consequently, it was concluded that he wasn't as dedicated to his job as he should have been.
Having been arrested sometime towards the end of last month, the 66-year-old North Korea official was taken to the firing range and executed in just a few days and without legal proceedings.
The execution was carried out with an anti-aircraft gun
Rather than have a squadron fire their weapons at him, North Kores Defense Minister Hyon Yong-Chol is said to have been executed with an anti-aircraft gun. A ZPU-4 anti-aircraft gun, to be more precise.
Such weapons, one of which is pictured next to this article, have a range of 26,000 feet (nearly 8,000 meters) and are basically collections of guns neatly packed together.
By the looks of it, North Korea has a history of using ZPU-4 anti-aircraft guns for executions. It is believed that it was in last year's October that such weapons were used to kill several unidentified people at the same rage firing range where Hyon Yong-Chol was shot dead this past April 30.
Reports say that, since he came to power in 2011 until now, North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un has ordered the execution of about 70 officials who challenged his authority.