North Korea is a state whose internal workings are almost impossible for outsiders to comprehend. There has been no better example of this in recent times than the execution last week of Jang Song Thaek, the uncle and righthand man of Kim Jong Un, the country’s young dictator. The Pyongyang regime is one that tends to settle political scores in quietly orchestrated removals and fuzzy reshuffles. The purging of Jang was different. He was dramatically removed from a special party session by armed guards and almost immediately put to death.

There is no firm explanation as to why the state’s number two figure was eliminated. The regime declared that he was executed for attempting to carry out a coup. Some outside analysts play this down and suggest he is a scapegoat for recent economic failures. Whatever the truth, his execution prompts some deeper questions. Is this an act that strengthens North Korea’s 30-year-old leader? Or does it herald the start of a destabilising power struggle at the top?

Those who believe Jang’s demise stabilises the regime see it as a natural step in Mr Kim’s assertion of power. They say he is replacing an older generation of officials with new ones who will owe their positions to him.