'Severe punishment awaits': Kim Jong Un's troops rounded up hundreds of executed uncle's relatives, claims a North Korea source



Hundreds of family and extended family members rounded up

Leader's uncle found guilty of corruption and shot on December 12

Insiders say punishing criminals' relatives is not unusual in secretive state

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has ordered troops to round-up hundreds of relatives of the uncle he had executed.



Jang Song-Thaek, who is the leader's uncle, was shot On December 12 after being accused of plotting to overthrown the government.



And reports suggest that the day after the execution, Ministry of State troops arrived in the Pyongchong area of Pyongyang and took away hundreds of people.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, (centre right), pictured his wife, Ri Sol-Ju, (centre left), ordered the death of two aides believed to be loyal to his executed uncle while extremely drunk, it has been reported

In North Korea family members of people found guilty of crimes are often punished.



And in this case it is believed that the family members have been taken to political prison camps.



According to The Sunday Telegraph a source told the Daily NK newspaper, which is run by defectors of the regime, that they believed even relatives living away from Pyongyang were not safe under the circumstances.



Elderly Jang Song-Thaek being escorted in court on December 12, the day it is believed he was executed after being found guilty of corruption. According to reports hundreds of members of his family were rounded up the next day

They also told the newspaper that close relatives as well as distant family members were taken away, including relatives of Song-Thaek's father.



Kim Kyong-Hui, the biological aunt of Kim Jong Un. It is not known whether she was among those rounded up

Kim Jong Un's former mentor Mr Song-Thaek was charged with 24 offences.

These included abusing his position of power and 'dreaming different dreams' to the regime.

North Korea stunned the world by announcing the execution of the man once seen as the dictator's political regent.

His death marks the biggest political upheaval since the 30-year-old inherited power.

The Kim dynasty has ruled the isolated country for more than six decades.

Mr Song-Thaek is the husband of Jong Un's biological aunt, the sister of his father Kim Jong Il.

The source added: 'Jang's crimes are 'anti-party, counter-revolutionary factionalism,' so of course they will have to say that his family challenged the system.

