In a bid to squash dissent within North Korea's ruling elite, the once-powerful uncle of Jang Song Thaek, who married Kim's aunt, was the vice chairman of North Korea's top military body and has often been pictured beside Kim. John Park, a Northeast Asia analyst at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, said, "Some see this as perhaps the last part of the power consolidation phase, that
Jang and his allies were accused by Kim of double-dealing behind the scene, "dreaming different dreams" and selling the country's resources at cheap prices, thereby threatening North Korea's economic development, according to the statement. It said, "Jang desperately worked to form a faction within the party by creating illusion about him and winning those weak in faith and flatterers to his side."
The same statement also chastises Jang for improper relations with several women, drug use, gambling, eating at expensive restaurants and getting medical treatment in a foreign country.
Last week two of Jang's close allies - Lee Yong-ha and Jang Soo-kee - were publicly executed.