North Korea announced the execution of Jang Song Thaek, the country's de facto second-in-command and uncle to the supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, on December 12. The official line is he was killed for attempting to overthrow the regime, though the Wall Street Journal said it was all really about a dispute over coal-mining rights.

However, new reports say that Jang was already on the way out after Kim ordered the executions of people in Jang's inner circle at the end of November. And when he called for the heads of two of these people, the young dictator was very, very drunk, according to a report in the Japanese newspaper, Yomiuri Shimbun.

The conflict started when Ri Ryong-ha, the first deputy director of the administrative department of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, and Jang Su-gil, a deputy director of the department, failed to immediately follow Kim's orders to hand over control of a profitable business to the military. Apparently, the men told Kim they had to first consult Jang about the transfer, and this deeply upset the new leader.

According to reports, Kim was drunk when he called for Ri and Jang Su-gil to be executed, though further details are not readily available.

Reports say eight of Jang Song Thaek's close associates were executed and that friends and family members have also been arrested on charges of guilt by association.

The Japanese newspaper also noted that Kim Jong Un has about $40 billion in overseas bank accounts and that the money goes to buying the favor and loyalty of high-ranking officials. The report alleged that Jang managed these funds and that he and his inner circle used some of the money for their own personal uses.

Kim's move to execute his uncle is seen as a tactic to solidify his own power.

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