Kim Jong-un’s ‘closest comrade’ killed in auto crash sparking fears for

Those talks produced an agreement that ended the standoff and for the two sides to work to hold more discussions to improve ties.

With analysts questioning whether the North’s attitude towards South Korea would become even more unpredictable, Seoul refused to comment on the matter.

Since then, he had worked up the ladder of the party hierarchy mostly in the divisions handling foreign affairs and inter-Korean relations. Jeong, the ministry spokesman, said it was the first time Pyongyang had officially identified a traffic accident as the cause of death for one of its senior officials. But Greg Scarlatoiu, the executive director at the Cmte. for Human Rights in North Korea says that it might not have been a auto accident after all.

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.

Last year, it was widely reported that Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song Thaek, was executed in a freakish and cruel manner by being fed to a pack of 120 wild, hungry dogs.

South Korean intelligence officials had reportedly said that Choe was sent to the countryside for re-education. He is known to have led the preparatory work for late former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s trip to China in 2010.

Kim Yang Gon also appears to have advised Kim Jong Un closely on other worldwide relations.

Kim Yang Gon played a significant role in talks to remove tensions between the two nations after an exchange of artillery fire back in August.

Only a small number of North Korean officials have had extensive dealings with the South. The two highest-ranking officials with recent such experience are Choe Ryong Hae and Hwang Pyong So, both of whom are Party men with military ties.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, the third-generation North Korean leader of the Kim family, has killed several senior officials, including family members, since becoming the country’s “supreme leader”.

Kim was secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party and chief of its United Front Department, which manages North Korea’s relations with South Korea.

Similar speculation arose in past years following reported traffic deaths of high-level North Korean officials but verifying exactly what is happening is hard in Kim Jong Un’s secretive ruling of North Korea.