North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has made a startling public display of fury, summarily dismissing a senior economic official during a factory visit and unleashing a bizarre tirade in which he compared the man to a 'goat'. The incident lays bare the intense pressure and profound failures within the Hermit Kingdom's sanctioned and struggling economy.
A Public Humiliation at a Key Industrial Site
The dramatic scene unfolded as Kim inspected the first phase of renovations at the Ryongsong Machine Complex, a major industrial facility in Hamgyong province. According to the state-run KCNA news agency, the leader lambasted officials for chronic delays, accusing them of "defeatism, irresponsibility and passiveness".
His anger culminated in the immediate dismissal of Vice Premier Yang Sung Ho, who oversaw economic policy. Kim declared him "unfit to be entrusted with heavy duties" and offered a peculiar agricultural analogy to explain the failure. "Put simply, it was like hitching a cart to a goat, an accidental mistake in our cadre appointment process," Kim stated. "After all, it is an ox that pulls a cart, not a goat."
Underlying Causes: Sanctions and Systemic Failure
This theatrical purge occurs against a backdrop of deep and persistent economic crisis. North Korea's economy is crippled by heavy international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and missile programmes. These are compounded by decades of centralised mismanagement, dilapidated infrastructure, and recurring natural disasters.
Severe food shortages remain a constant problem for the population, while the state continues to prioritise scarce resources for its military and weapons development programmes. The Ryongsong complex itself is a crucial part of the nation's industrial base; Professor Yang Moo Jin of the University of North Korean Studies notes the wider industrial corridor it sits within accounts for almost 16 per cent of the country's total machinery output.
A Tactic of Fear, Not Reform
Analysts warn that the public sacking should not be seen as a move towards genuine economic reform. Instead, it is interpreted as a classic Kim Jong Un tactic: using fear and public accountability to warn other officials and deflect blame from systemic policy failures.
Professor Yang argued the leader was "using public accountability as a shock tactic to warn party officials" rather than addressing core shortcomings. This pattern of brutal purges is well-established. It echoes the 2013 execution of Kim's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, labelled "worse than a dog", and the 2010 execution of finance official Pak Nam Gi after a disastrous currency reform.
The timing is also significant. The development comes as Pyongyang prepares for its first ruling Workers' Party congress in five years, expected in the coming weeks. Observers predict that economic strategy, alongside military policy, will dominate the agenda, with Kim seeking to project strength and control amid undeniable domestic struggles.
