This undated image grab taken from footage shown by North Korea's KCTV and released by South Korea's Yonhap news agency on Monday shows Jang Song-thaek (center) reportedly being dragged from his chair during a meeting in Pyongyang. Photo: AFP/Yonhap
 

This shows before and after photos of still grabs taken from a documentary rebroadcast on KCTV Saturday, showing scenes from the original version (left) broadcast on October 7 and of the new version where Jang (circled) was edited out. Photo: AFP/South Korean Ministry of Unification

 
The ousting of North Korea's No.2 leader may be just the start of a series of purges as leader Kim Jong-un moves to shore up his power base, analysts said Monday.

Pyongyang on Monday confirmed the dismissal of Kim's uncle Jang Song-thaek from all his posts for his "anti-party, counter-revolutionary factional acts."

Jang, who was widely considered the No.2 figure in the country's political landscape, was also expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

The decision to purge Jang came at an enlarged meeting held by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK on Sunday, according to a report released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. Kim Jong-un attended and guided the meeting.

Analysts believe that Jang's removal was the result of a power struggle within the country conducted to build up Kim's absolute authority.

Jang, who served as former vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission, was accused of disturbing the establishment of a "party unitary leadership system." He "desperately worked to form a faction within the party" by creating illusion and winning followers, said the report.

The confirmation of Jang's removal came after one of his aides was reported to have defected in late September or early October. The aide is being protected by South Korean officials in China, South Korean cable news network YTN said, citing sources familiar with the matter.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a press briefing on Monday that Jang's removal was an "internal affair" and China hopes the North will have national stability, economic growth and for its people to enjoy happiness.

"China will stay committed to pushing forward the traditional friendship and cooperation with North Korea," Hong said.

The political bureau also alleged Jang, 67, committed "irregularities and corruption" and led a "dissolute and depraved" life.

Jang was also described as a double-dealer who abused his power, "had improper relations with several women and was wined and dined at back parlors of deluxe restaurants."

Despite such a substantial restructuring of power, life is continuing as usual in the capital Pyongyang, according to the Global Times' reporter based in the country.

Jang's wife, the daughter of the North's founding leader Kim Il-sung, was not in trouble, a source with close ties to Pyongyang told Reuters.

"Among a string of reasons given for Jang's ouster, the most important is the political reason that this powerful man disturbed the unitary leadership system of the party," Zhang Liangui, a professor with the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, told the Global Times.

"Jang must have had some people loyal to him, which is not allowed in the North Korean regime. He may also have had different views on some major issues from Kim. These combined would have led to his purge," Zhang said.

Jang was also accused of hindering North Korea's state-run production of iron, fertilizers and vinalon (synthetic fiber) by selling off resources at cheap prices and "throwing the state financial management system into confusion."

"Kim and Jang may be divided on some issues such as what path North Korea should follow. The dispute then evolves into a power struggle. Kim wants to get rid of the veteran official to build up his own authority," Yang Mian, a professor of international relations at the Communication University of China, told the Global Times.

For such a senior figure as Jang, it's extremely easy to overstep his own authority and incur such results, Yang said.

North Korea's KCTV also broadcast photos showing Jang being pulled out of his seat at a meeting by two officers in uniform. It is rare for Pyongyang to publish such a photograph involving a senior official. It's unknown whether the photo was taken at Sunday's meeting.

"Jang's ouster will be followed by a series of purges to those loyal to him," Yang said.

Jung Chung-rae, a member of the South Korean parliament's Intelligence Committee, said two of Jang's relatives, who were serving in embassies overseas, had been recalled.

Considered an economic reformist, Jang led a delegation to China in August last year to discuss the development of two economic zones in Rason city and the Hwanggumphyong and Wihwa islands.

"Jang's purge would not cause great changes to the development of the zones as the decision was made by a group of leaders instead of Jang himself. Kim will not change his policy of advancing economic development," Yang said.

Hong Hyun-ik, a senior research fellow at the South Korea-based think tank  Sejong Institute, said that purging Jang and his close aides who are intimate with China may affect China-North Korea relations in the short term.

However, Hong noted the Chinese leaders now have to deal with Kim Jong-un without any one in the middle, and this might lead to an official visit from Kim to China early next year.

Park Gayoung and agencies contributed to this story