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Secretive North Korea has re-written history by deleting thousands of articles from its online news archive, leaving just a handful praising ruthless leader Kim Jong-un.

Around 35,000 articles have disappeared from the official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) website and a further 20,000 items from the site of the ruling Workers' Party.

The archives now only go back to October, erasing from memory such major events as the death of former leader Kim Jong-il in December 2011.

The few articles that have survived from before October are those praising the current leader, such as one item headed 'Kim Jong-un Sends Congratulatory Message to Youth' from August 2012.

The KCNA has de-listed itself from Google and no longer appears in its searches.

The only way it can be seen is via a 'mirror' website run from Japan.

North Korea expert Frank Feinstein claimed 99 per cent of articles have disappeared and translations into English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese have also been wiped.

Referring to the two websites, Mr Feinstein said: "This is calculated.

"It means the order most likely came from above the individual agencies."

The move comes just four days after merciless dictator Kim Jong-un had his own uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, executed as a traitor.

Around 15 articles referring to Mr Jang have been deleted and a further 500 edited to remove his name.

The online purge is thought to have been ordered to rewrite North Korean history and cement Kim Jong-un's status as leader.