North Korea leader Kim’s aide dies in road mishap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s “most trustworthy” aide, who oversaw ties with the South, died in a traffic accident, Pyongyang’s state media on Wednesday said, a loss seen as a blow to efforts at reconciliation between the two rivals.

Mr Kim has earned a reputation for ruthlessness after eliminating previous high-ranking officials, including his uncle, but the announcement of a state funeral for Kim Yang-Gon appears to indicate his death was not part of a fresh purge.

Kim Yang-Gon, who was a secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party, “died in a traffic accident at 6:15 am Tuesday at age 73,” the Korean Central News Agency said, without giving further details of the incident.

KCNA hailed him as “the dearest and the most trustworthy comrade-in-arms” of current leader Kim Jong-Un, who will head a state funeral for the official on Thursday.

His death was a “great loss” for the party and the people, KCNA said, praising him for his “admirable loyalty and competence”.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-Un’s one-time right-handman was confirmed to have made a comeback to Pyongyang’s inner circle, after reportedly being purged and sent to a farm for “re-education”.

Analysts said the reversal of fortune for Choe Ryong-Hae is the latest in a series, and indicate the young leader may be taking a softer line after earning a reputation for ruthlessness with the elimination of high-ranking officials including his uncle.