Kim Jong-un Executes Uncle Chang Song-thaek in Major Purge

On December 12, 2013, Chang Song-thaek, the influential uncle of Kim Jong-un, was executed after being found guilty of attempting to overthrow the state. This was one of the most dramatic and brutal power struggles in North Korea’s modern history, marking the biggest political shake-up since Kim Jong-il’s death in 2011. Chang had been considered the second most powerful man in North Korea, serving as vice chairman of the National Defence Commission and acting as a mentor to Kim Jong-un after his father’s death. However, he was suddenly arrested at a high-level party meeting, accused of corruption, factionalism, and treason, and swiftly executed. His downfall was seen as Kim Jong-un consolidating his power by eliminating potential rivals. State media denounced Chang as "worse than a dog" and accused him of trying to destabilize the regime through economic deals with foreign entities. The purge also resulted in the execution and removal of many of Chang’s allies, reinforcing Kim’s absolute control over the Workers' Party and the military.