N. Korean media remains mute on Jang Song-thaek's dismissal: official

North Korea media have remained silent on speculations that its leader's uncle has been dismissed from power, Seoul's unification ministry said Wednesday.

"It is very likely that Jang Song-thaek has been sacked from all posts," said ministry spokeswoman Park Soo-jin. She, however, said that while there is precedence in regards to media outlets reporting on the dismissals and retirement of senior officials, nothing has been reported on Jang so far.

"We are keeping close tabs on the fact that no official confirmation has come out of Pyongyang and what this may mean," the official said.

She added that the government had confidence in the accuracy of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), adding that the spy agency reportedly shared the information with other agencies before it reported to lawmakers on Tuesday.

Park, meanwhile, said that Seoul again tried to send a formal request calling on the communist country to make known the identity of the man who was reported detained in early November.

The request sent by the South Korean Red Cross was rejected by the North at the neutral village of Panmunjom.

"It is regrettable that the North declined to accept the message," she said, pointing out that South Korea wants the person held to be released as soon as possible. (Yonhap News)