North Korea executed 15 people for spying, disagreeing with Supreme leader this year

North Korea has executed 15 people, including several top officials, this year for spying and disagreeing with the Supreme leader, South Korean intelligence said.

The agency told a parliamentary meeting on Wednesday that they were shot dead by a firing squad. Those killed included two vice ministers who challenged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's policies and members of an orchestra to which his wife once belonged, reported the BBC.

Jong-un has earlier purged and executed his once-powerful uncle for treachery in 2013.