By Ko Dong-hwan





The Korean People's Army Chief Choe Ryong-hae, left, with Kim Jong-un

North Korean government may have locked behind bars the state's second-in-command Choe Ryong-hae for not fulfilling his duties and other allegations deemed disloyal, Free North Korea Radio (FNKR) said Friday.

According to the media's state correspondents, the Korean People's Army (KPA) Chief was arrested at his home on Feb. 21 at around 6 a.m. Some 30 military guards detained Choe who at the time was getting ready to go to work.

The guards, after the arrest, confiscated all documents and appliances at his office in the Ministry of People's Armed Forces.

Choe is known to have been serving his jail time in a cell located inside the State Security Department since then.

While reasons remain unclear, FNKR analyzed Choe's alleged arrest might have resulted from his failure to keep the state military's morale closely attached to their leader Kim Jong-un.

Another correspondent said Choe opposed some profitable state businesses whose control was transferred to administrative governments after the execution of Jang Song-thaek in December last year. It posed a direct challenge to directives assigned by Kim Jong-un, the correspondent interpreted.

North Korean media stopped mentioning Choe's name since a state gathering at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to commemorate the previous state leader Kim Jong-il's birthday on Feb. 16, source added.