Anchor: The whereabouts of the North Korean general in charge of the regime's ballistic missile capabilities and the vice chairman of the Central Committee of the North’s ruling party is unknown. Their absences are spawning various speculations.
Alannah Hill has more. 
 
Report: When North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the test launch of new intermediate-range ballistic missile, Pukguksong-2, on February 12th, he was flanked by many top North Korean military commanders. 

One noticeable absence, however, was North Korea’s Strategic Rocket Force Commander General Kim Rak-gyom.
 
[Sound bite: North Korea’s Korean Central Television (Korean)]
“Dear Respected Comrade Kim Jong-un was accompanied by Comrade Ri Pyong-chol, Comrade Kim Jong-sik, Comrade Chong Sung-il, Comrade Jang Chang-ha, and many other responsible members of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea…”
 
Gen. Kim Rak-gyom was nowhere to be seen at other key military events, including the 69th anniversary of the creation of the North’s military.
 
Vice President Ko Young-hwan of the Seoul-based Institute for National Security Strategy noted that the general has not been seen in public for as long as six months since September.
 
[Sound bite: Ko Young-hwan - vice president, Institute for National Security Strategy (Korean)]
“There is no doubt that there were changes to the position of the North Korea’s Strategic Rocket Force Commander. He may have been demoted, dismissed or sent to the “revolutionization zone.” We need to keep every possibility open.”
 
After visiting foreign countries as Kim Jong-un's envoy, Vice chairman of the Central Committee of the North’s ruling Workers' Party of Korea Choe Ryong-hae has also been missing from public scenes for three weeks.

He wasn't seen at recent major events such as the birthday of former late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
 
South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo said his absence may be related to the recent killing of the North’s leader’s half-brother Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia. He said that the military is closely monitoring the suspicious connection.
Alannah Hill, KBS World Radio News.

[Photo : ]