North Korea's Kim fires new economy minister, blasts cabinet for unambitious plans

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sacked his economy chief, who was only appointed last month, and denounced his cabinet for a lack of innovation in drafting goals for a new five-year economic plan, state broadcaster KRT reported on Friday (February 12).

KRT footage showed a visibly angry Kim yelling, finger pointing and striking the podium as he addressed the meeting.

He accused the cabinet of drafting plans with "no big changes" from previous ones, which he has said had "failed tremendously on almost every sector." The committee appointed O Su Yong, a long-time economic policymaker who previously served as a vice premier, to be the new director of its Department of Economic Affairs, replacing Kim Tu Il who was appointed in January. 

The ruling Workers' Party wrapped up its four-day plenary meeting on Thursday (February 11), where Kim also mapped out his vision for inter-Korean affairs and relations with other countries, as well as party rules and personnel issues.