Report: North Korean leaders eaten alive by pack of dogs

Jan. 7, 2014

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA — 

The purging of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's uncle and his aides may have been even more cruel and barbaric than initially thought.

According to a report by a Chinese state-backed newspaper, Jong-un had the six men stripped naked and eaten alive by a huge pack of ravenous dogs.

Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po newspaper reports that Jang Song Thaek and five of his associates met their demise in the horrific manner as hundreds of North Koreans watched on. The report was picked up by several U.S. media sites and quickly spread across social media Friday.

UPDATE: The Washington Post and NPR have published stories on their websites Friday afternoon casting doubt on the gruesome details of Jang Song Thaek's demise. Washington Post's Max Fisher wrote that the fact Chinese and South Korean media have not picked up on the story are reasons to be suspicious.

The report from Wen Wei Po said a group of 120 hunting dogs were starved for three days and then set upon the men with the ordeal lasting up to an hour.

Jang Song Thaek was at one time believed to be a close confidant to Kim. But earlier this month, Jang was arrested for allegedly committing treason in what may have been the result of a power struggle within the leadership of the communist nation. 

Upon announcing Jang's arrest North Korean state media described Jang as “despicable human scum, worse than a dog.”  

Previously it had been reported that some of Jang’s aides were executed with anti-aircraft machine guns. North Korean state media has not confirmed how all of the executions were conducted.

It is believed up to eight men were killed in the purge.

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