AFTER North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un declared his uncle to be "despicable human scum, worse than a dog," a newspaper claims to have details of his horrific execution.
Unlike previous executions of political prisoners which were carried out by firing squads with machine guns, the Hong Kong Wen Wei Po reports Jang Song Thaek was stripped naked and thrown into a cage, along with his five closest aides.
"Then 120 hounds, starved for three days, were allowed to prey on them until they were completely eaten up. This is called "quan jue", or execution by dogs," the article reads.
The December 12 report was also picked up by the Straits Times . But the validity of the claims is being questioned. as other South Korean and Chinese media, with closer ties to North Korea, have not reported on the story during the last month.
Jang Song-Thaek being escorted in court on December 12, 2013 before being executed. Picture: AFPSource: AFP
The alleged news of how his uncle was executed comes as South Korea dismissed North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's conciliatory words in his New Year message as an empty gesture, urging Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear programs to show it is committed to better relations.
South Korean conservative protesters burn an effigy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un during an anti-North Korea protest marking the second anniversary of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's death. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
In his speech yesterday, Kim hailed the execution last month of his once-powerful uncle Jang Song-Thaek and accused the United States and South Korea of manoeuvring for a nuclear war.
But he also called for a "favourable climate" to improve relations with the South, saying it was time for the two Koreas to stop doing "anything detrimental to national unity and reconciliation".
In its first official response, the South Korean government said it was sceptical about the intentions of Kim, who has ruled the nuclear-armed North since the death of his father, Kim Jong-Il, in December 2011.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un delivering his New Year's Day address in Pyongyang. Picture: AFPSource: AFP
"Peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved merely by words", Seoul said in a statement.
"In order to improve ties between the South and the North, North Korea must show sincerity in building trust and above all, it must make genuine efforts for denuclearisation".
It said Kim made similar comments in last year's New Year speech before a series of provocative actions from the North including a third nuclear test, threats of military attacks and the unilateral closure of an inter-Korean industrial zone.
Pyongyang shut down the complex at Kaesong in April during a spike in military tensions that followed the nuclear test but the two Koreas agreed in September to resume operations.
South Korean Defence Minister Kim Kwan-Jin on Thursday cautioned that the apparent peace overtures from the North could be a "smoke screen" aimed at hiding a provocative act, urging the military to remain alert.
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