Story perspectives

Kim Jong Un Fires Vice-Premier, Vows to Combat Corruption

1/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, inspected the Ryongsong Machine Complex renovation in Pyongyang on January 19.
He fired vice-premier Yang Sung Ho, calling him unfit for his role.
He criticized economic officials for project delays.
He condemned officials' irresponsible behavior, saying they had grown accustomed to defeatism.
The event comes ahead of the ruling party's first congress in five years, and Kim vowed to root out corruption and inefficiency.

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Story summary

Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, inspected the Ryongsong Machine Complex renovation in Pyongyang on January 19.
He fired vice-premier Yang Sung Ho, calling him unfit for his role.
He criticized economic officials for project delays.
He condemned officials' irresponsible behavior, saying they had grown accustomed to defeatism.
The event comes ahead of the ruling party's first congress in five years, and Kim vowed to root out corruption and inefficiency.