Kim Jong-Un`s powerbroker uncle ousted: South Korea

Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un`s uncle, seen as his nephew`s political regent and one of the most powerful men in the country, has been ousted and several of his associates executed, South Korean officials said on Tuesday.

In a briefing to a parliamentary committee, South Korea`s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Jang Song-Thaek had been removed as vice chairman of the North`s top military body, the National Defence Commission, an opposition lawmaker told reporters. If confirmed, Jang`s ouster would mark the most significant political upheaval in the top North Korean leadership since Kim succeeded his late father Kim Jong-Il in December 2011. In an emergency briefing with MPs, the NIS said Jang was "recently ousted from his position and two of his close confidantes -- Ri Yong-Ha and Jang Soo-Kil -- were publicly executed in mid November", legislator Jung Cheong-Rae told reporters. "The execution was notified to all military personnel. Since then, Jang has disappeared," Jung said.