North Korea’s Kim Fires Vice Premier, Uses Rarely Heard Public Insult

 

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has once again drawn international attention after dismissing a senior economic official in a highly publicized and unusually blunt manner. According to reports carried by state media and international observers, Kim fired a vice premier during a government review meeting and sharply criticized him as “a goat yoked to pull an ox cart,” a phrase interpreted as a scathing rebuke of incompetence.

The episode highlights the strict accountability culture within North Korea’s leadership and offers rare insight into how Kim publicly enforces discipline among senior officials. Analysts say the language and timing of the dismissal are significant, shedding light on Pyongyang’s economic pressures and Kim’s leadership style.

---

The Dismissal and the Remark

The vice premier, whose portfolio reportedly included key economic responsibilities, was removed during a high-level meeting assessing policy implementation and state economic goals. According to North Korean state media, Kim expressed dissatisfaction with the official’s performance, accusing him of failing to meet expectations and lacking the capacity to manage assigned tasks.

The phrase used by Kim — comparing the official to “a goat yoked to pull an ox cart” — stands out for its harshness. Public humiliation of senior officials is relatively rare in North Korea’s tightly controlled political messaging, where criticism is often couched in ideological or collective terms. Observers note that such vivid language signals serious displeasure and is meant to send a warning across the bureaucracy.