Pyongyang | January 21, 2026
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dismissed Deputy Prime Minister Yang Sung-ho in a rare public reprimand, ordering his removal directly from the stage during an industrial project inauguration at the Yongsong Machine Complex on Monday.
According to state media reports, Kim criticized Yang for failing to fulfill key responsibilities linked to the modernization of the project’s first phase.
Kim Jong Un: “A Goat Cannot Pull a Cart”
During his address, Kim sharply rebuked Yang, stating that he was unfit to handle major responsibilities.
Kim reportedly told him:
“A goat cannot pull a cart. Leave on your own feet before it becomes too late.”
He called Yang’s appointment a mistake in the leadership selection system.
Kim Says Yang Was Given Multiple Chances
Kim revealed that Yang had been given repeated opportunities to correct major errors in the modernization efforts at the Yongsong facility, but no improvement was observed.
Kim clarified that the dismissal does not label Yang as “anti-party,” but emphasized that his proposals to the Central Committee were neither realistic nor grounded in truth.
Accused of Misleading the Party for Personal Gain
Kim further accused Yang of attempting to mislead the party for his own benefit, even during an important party meeting held last month.
Despite providing him another chance, Kim said it had become clear that Yang lacked a sense of responsibility:
“He has been like this from the beginning and cannot be entrusted with any major role.”
Dismissal Ahead of Major Party Congress
The action comes as North Korea prepares for the ninth Workers’ Party Congress, a significant political event. Public dismissals of senior officials are rare in North Korea, making this move unusually direct and symbolic.
Yang Sung-ho previously served as Minister of Machinery Industry before being promoted to Deputy Prime Minister overseeing the machinery sector.
Reports from South Korea’s state agency indicate he had a presence in the party’s top leadership, though his role was not permanent. It remains unclear who will replace him.
Kim also blamed economic-policy officials for delays at the Yongsong Machine Complex, citing negligence and incompetence as major obstacles to timely progress.
