Kim Jong-un, who came into power in 2011, has so far executed 70 officials in a "reign of terror" that far exceeds the body count of his late father's early years.
Speaking at a forum in Seoul, South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-se stated that the young North Korean leader has so far executed 70 officials in his first five years in power. His father, the late Kim Jong-il, who was also considered a ruthless dictator, only executed about 10 people in his first years in power, according to The Washington Post.
The information pertaining to the number of executions cannot be effectively verified however, mainly due to the fact that North Korea, a strict authoritarian nation that has been ruled by the Kim family since 1949, has been extremely secretive about its government's inner workings.
The country is so secretive that even information gathered by South Korean intelligence agents are often impossible to fully confirm.
The South Korean foreign minister has further stated that the young North Korean dictator's "reign of terror" has inspired more and more North Koreans who are working overseas to defect to the South. Yun did not elaborate on how he got the details, reports Fox News.
Kim Jong-un's ruthless dictatorship has been brought to light recently, when he began removing key members of the old guard through a series of violent purges. One of his most recent victims was the National Defense Chief, 66-year-old Hyon Yong Chol, who was accused of insubordination and treason, as covered by HNGN.
Experts state that Kim's strategy to use fear in order to solidify his leadership may fail - mainly if he fails to improve the country's dying economy.
