North Korea publicly executes 10 people for watching South Korean soap operas

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- North Korea reportedly executed 10 members of the Workers Party who were accused of watching South Korean soap operas among other charges.

Counting the recently executed members, a total of 50 people were executed in the last year. They were charged with watching South Korean soap operas, womanizing and bribery. They were also reportedly close to Kim's uncle Jang Song-thaek who was arrested and executed for crimes against the state in December 2013.

In addition to the executions, 200 military officers were demoted for failures in accuracy during training exercises.

Kim Jong-un purges people regularly to solidify his power in North Korea. His hold on power recently came into question after he disappeared for a month following an ankle surgery.

"Kim Jong Un is trying to establish absolute power and strengthen his regime with public punishments," Yang Moo Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul told Bloomberg. "However, frequent purges can create side effects."