Aunt of North Korean leader died after her husband was executed, defector says
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Kim Kyung Hee was the sister of Kim Jong Il
The late leader died three years ago and left his son in power
The son executed Kim Kyung Hee's husband, Jang Song Thaek
(CNN) -- The aunt of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un suffered a fatal stroke while she was on the phone with him, arguing about her husband's execution, according to a defector from the secretive nation.
Kim Kyung Hee was the sister of Kim Jong Il, the North Korean leader who died three years ago and left his son in power.
Her husband, Jang Song Thaek, was executed in December, shocking many observers around the world.
Jang, the younger leader's uncle by marriage, was considered instrumental in his rise to power.
Before his execution, he was described as the second-most powerful figure in North Korea.
But the young leader turned his back on Jang in spectacular fashion late last year, having him executed on charges that he tried to overthrow the government.
"In the seething period of the effort for building a thriving country last year, we took the resolute measure of removing the factionalists," the North Korean leader said in a New Year's address shortly after the execution.
Days after the execution, Jang's wife suffered her third stroke, according to Kang Myung-do, a defector who was son-in-law to North Korea's ex-Prime Minister, Kang Sun San.
She was on the phone with the North Korean leader when she suffered the stroke, Kang said. She was hospitalized and later died.
The death was not announced because she died a few days after her husband and the government did not want people to link her death to his, according to the defector.
Korean media have reported that she committed suicide five days after her husband's execution.
By Jung-eun Kim and Judy Kwon, CNN
November 28, 2014 -- Updated 1545 GMT (2345 HKT)
日中韓環境フォーラム 北京で開催11月28日 17時57 大気汚染をはじめ環境問題の解決に向けて、日本、中国、韓国の３か国の政府関係者や専門家などが意見を交わすフォーラムが中国の北京で開かれ、公害を克服した日本の経験や対策などが紹介されました。
このフォーラムは、日中韓３か国の環境に関わる専門家のほか、政府や企業の関係者、およそ１５０人が参加しました。
はじめに、中国の政府系シンクタンク「中国国際経済交流センター」の鄭新立副理事長が「環境を改善することは、新たな投資を呼び込むことにもつながる」と述べ、経済の活性化にも環境対策が重要だと強調しました。
続いて、中国駐在の木寺大使が「中国の公害問題の克服に、日本企業の実績が必ず役立つと信じている」とあいさつしました。
フォーラムでは、かつて大気汚染が深刻だった北九州市の担当者が、企業に対する汚染物質の規制や健康被害の補償制度を紹介し、中国側の参加者からは「有効な政策で参考になる」という声が上がっていました。
また、韓国の研究者も、大気の動きを捉えた衛星写真を示しながら、大気汚染は国境を越えた対策が必要だと指摘しました。
中国では、大気汚染に加えて、地下水などの水質汚染も深刻になっていて、今後も、幅広い分野で３か国の政策や技術の共有を進めることが重要だという意見が相次いでいました。
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