North Korea's army politburo chief Hwang Pyong-so has been absent from recent military events attended by leader Kim Jong-un.
"We're trying to find out what's happened," a government source here said.
Check with the local anti-aircraft gun squad... | Hwang's name was not mentioned when the official Rodong Sinmun listed the names of senior officials who accompanied Kim when he watched a concert by the North Korean Army band on its 70th anniversary on Tuesday. He was also missing when Kim watched a military drill and an aerial exercise last Saturday.
Hwang was last seen at a banquet celebrating the North's recent rocket launch in Pyongyang on Feb. 13. Pundits say he was likely taken ill. But he could also have fallen victim to ongoing purges that most recently put former Army chief Ri Yong-gil out of action last month. |