The move marks one of the more direct public rebukes of senior officials in recent months and appears to underscore Kim’s efforts to tighten internal discipline as the country faces ongoing economic pressure.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday that Vice Premier Yang Sung-ho was removed from his post during Kim’s visit to the Ryongsong Machine Complex, where the first phase of a modernisation project was being inaugurated. KCNA said Kim dismissed Yang "on the spot”, stating that he was "unfit to be entrusted with heavy duties”.

In remarks carried by KCNA, Kim criticised what he described as failures in the party’s cadre appointment process, using a metaphor to suggest Yang lacked the capability required for the role. 

Yang previously served as minister of the machinery industry and was promoted to vice premier overseeing the machinery sector. He is also an alternate member of the Workers’ Party leadership council, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. No replacement has been announced.

KCNA also reported that Kim used the visit to sharply criticise other officials linked to delays in the Ryongsong modernisation project, blaming "irresponsible, rude and incompetent economic guidance officials” for setbacks. He warned that some party members had shown "defeatism, irresponsibility and passiveness” and questioned whether existing economic policymakers were capable of leading the restructuring and technological upgrading of North Korea’s industry.

The dismissal comes as North Korea prepares for its Ninth Party Congress, a key political event expected to outline strategic and economic priorities. Analysts say the timing suggests Kim may be seeking to reinforce authority and discipline within the party ahead of the gathering, where loyalty and performance are likely to be closely scrutinised. Public criticism of officials by the leader is relatively uncommon in North Korean media, which typically emphasises unity and success.

Observers also note that the move reflects broader challenges facing North Korea’s economy, including chronic resource shortages, limited industrial capacity, and the impact of international sanctions. By placing responsibility on individual officials, Kim may be attempting to signal accountability while maintaining the broader narrative that policy direction remains sound.

Yonhap reported separately last week that several senior officials responsible for Kim’s personal security had also been replaced, citing what it described as heightened concerns about potential threats. According to the report, the heads of three major security units were removed. While such reports are difficult to independently verify, they have added to speculation among analysts that Kim is seeking tighter control over both the political elite and security apparatus.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, told AFP that Kim’s public handling of the dismissal appears intended as a warning to other officials. He said the leadership may be using visible accountability measures as a way to reinforce discipline and deter complacency within the ruling elite.

Although rare, public purges or demotions have occurred before in North Korea, most notably in 2013 when Kim’s uncle Jang Song Thaek was executed after being accused of attempting to challenge the leadership. Analysts caution, however, that Yang’s dismissal does not necessarily signal a broader purge, but rather highlights the pressures within the system as North Korea seeks to push forward economic projects under difficult conditions.