The deputy head of North Korea's United Front Department and vice chairman of the Asia-Pacific Peace Committee has apparently been purged over allegations that he took bribes from a foreign organization.

Radio Free Asia on Friday cited unnamed sources saying Won Tong-yon was among several senior North Korean officials who were purged after being accused of corruption involving business deals with North Koreans living abroad.

RFA said the purge was triggered by the arrest of Korean-Canadian missionary Lim Hyeon-soo in Pyongyang in January of this year.

Won has not been seen in public since he attended talks with South Korea in November of last year. A Unification Ministry official said, "We are focusing on Won's whereabouts since he has not been spotted for some time."

