North Korea's youth revolution stirs unease

The execution of Jang Song Taek, 67, is seen as part of a purge of older officials by 30-year-old leader Kim Jong Un, in some ways reminiscent of China's bloody Cultural Revolution under Mao.

Subway commuters in Pyongyang, North Korea, read the news of Jang Song Taek's execution. More executions of older government officials are expected. (David Guttenfelder / Associated Press / December13, 2013)

• By Barbara Demick and Jung-yoon Choi
  December 13, 2013, 6:24 p.m.
• BEIJING — It is North Korea's version of a youth revolution, and it's making a lot of people nervous.
• At 30, Kim Jong Un may well be the world's youngest head of state. His brother, Kim Jong Chul, two years older, is best known as an avid Eric Clapton fan but is also said to keep an eye on the leader's security. And the youngest of the Swiss-educated siblings, 26-year-old sister Kim Yo Jong, is seen frequently as an aide-de-camp to the leader.