North Korea's Kim fires vice premier, inspects machinery plant before key party congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected ‌an industrial machinery factory and fired a top official ahead ⁠of a key party congress, state media KCNA said on Tuesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected ‌an industrial machinery factory and fired a top official ahead ⁠of a key party congress, state media KCNA said on Tuesday. In recent weeks, Kim has ​made a series of visits to factories ‍as well as to arms tests ahead of the Ninth Party Congress of the Workers' ⁠Party, ‌expected to ⁠convene soon to set out major policy goals.

Kim on ‍Monday inspected the modernisation project of Ryongsong ​Machine Complex, a key North Korean machinery manufacturing ⁠base outside of Pyongyang, and lauded its progress, ⁠KCNA said. During his speech, Kim also fired Yang Sung Ho, Vice Premier of ⁠the Cabinet in charge of machinery industry, from ⁠his position ‌for his "irresponsibility and passiveness" in carrying out the modernisation project.