Kim Jong Un, North Korea's supreme leader, publicly berated and abruptly dismissed Yang Song-ho, the Deputy Prime Minister overseeing the nation's machinery industry, during the opening ceremony of a factory, citing project management failure.
On 20 Jan 2026 GMT+7, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong Un ordered the immediate dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister for Machinery Industry Yang Song-ho during the opening ceremony of the first phase of the Ryongsong machinery factory renovation project on 19 Jan 2026 GMT+7.
The report stated that Kim Jong Un harshly criticized the project for facing numerous problems, causing unnecessary man-made confusion and significant economic damage. It said the Workers' Party sent experts to thoroughly inspect the project, uncovering over 60 issues, and accused the involved cabinet members of shirking responsibility and protecting their own interests.
Furthermore, the North Korean leader accused Yang Song-ho of inappropriate behavior and speech, likening it to mocking the party center, deeming him unfit to hold a leadership position.
The Ryongsong machinery factory project in South Hamgyong Province is part of North Korea's strategic machinery industry development plan announced at the 8th Workers' Party Congress in 2021. This factory plays a key role in producing equipment for the country's mining and major industrial plants.
Such a public dismissal of a deputy prime minister is rare and is viewed as a sign of tightening discipline among economic officials ahead of the 9th Workers' Party Congress, which is expected to set new economic directions and restructure senior personnel across several agencies.
Source: Yonhap