North Korea is poised to execute 200 high-ranking officials loyal to ousted eminence grise Jang Song-taek, a source said Tuesday. Some 1,000 members of their families could be sent to concentration camps under the North's barbaric system of guilt by association.

The source said the State Security Department has conducted a sweep to ferret out Jang's supporters after his execution in December last year and identified 200 core supporters and another 1,000 followers.

The department has authorization from the North's highest court to hold closed-door trials to deliver death sentences, the source added. This apparently aims to make it look as if proper procedure, to the extent that it exists at all, has been followed.

The families of those who have been sentenced to death are likely to be sent to concentration camps without trial.

The source said, "Among those who have been sentenced to death are 200 officials in the Workers Party, the government and military who received orders directly from Jang Son g-taek. The executions will take place at the shooting range at Kang Kon Military Academy under the eyes of high-ranking party, government and military officials."

The public executions are designed to set an example to waverers what will happen to them if they fail to show blind obedience to Kim Jong-un, who marks his third year in power this year.