DHAKA: North Korea confirmed on Monday that Jang Song Thaek, an uncle of the country’s leader Kim Jong Un, had been dismissed for committing ‘criminal acts’ prompted by political ambition.

Jang had been previously considered the second-most-powerful man in the country, viewed as his nephew’s mentor and the real power behind the throne, reports france24.com.

‘Prompted by his politically motivated ambition, he tried to increase his force and build his base...,’ the KCNA news agency said on Sunday.

‘Jang and his followers committed criminal acts baffling imagination and they did tremendous harm to our party and revolution.’

The KCNA also said Jang was guilty of having ‘improper relations with several women’, becoming ‘affected by the capitalist way of living’, using drugs and ‘squandering’ foreign currency.

Jang has been relieved of all posts and titles, state media reported.

BDST: 1724 HRS, DEC 09, 2013