Anchor: Experts on North Korea say the director of the North Korean military's General Political Bureau, Choe Ryong-hae, is likely to have been deeply involved in the downfall of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek. The experts also say Jang and Choe were old rivals and rumored to be on bad terms. Our Bae Joo-yon has more.
 
Report: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s uncle Jang Song-thaek emerged as one of the North’s most powerful figures after the death of former leader Kim Jong-il. Jang was one of eight people who walked next to the hearse carrying Kim's body at his funeral in December 2011.
 
Seven months after the funeral, Jang visited China on behalf of Kim Jong-un and met with then Chinese President Hu Jintao. Jang, who served as the Vice Chairman of the North’s National Defense Commission, appeared to be the number two figure in Kim Jong-un’s government.
 
But everything changed this year when North Korea’s State Security Department launched an internal investigation into Jang’s confidants.
 
In May, the director of the North Korean military's General Political Bureau, Choe Ryong-hae, and not Jang, visited China. Moreover, the number of public appearances Jang made this year was only half of the 106 he made in 2012.
 
Experts on North Korea say Choe is likely to have played a key role in getting Jang removed from power. Jang and Choe, who swore an oath of brotherhood, were key figures in the launch of the Kim Jong-un government. But they collided over the North’s launch of long-range rockets and the North’s third nuclear test.
 
Experts also base their assessment on intelligence that relations grew more strained when Jang took up military projects with the Workers’ Party that Choe was in charge of carrying out.
 
North Korean authorities were reported to have executed two of Jang’s closest confidants in public in mid-November and are seeking to purge the remainder of his confidants.
 
Authorities say competition to pledge loyalty to Kim Jong-un is now expected to increase even further.
Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.