A high-ranking official of the North Korean army has been dismissed and expelled from the ruling party for corruption.

A high-ranking official of the North Korean army, Pak Chui Hol, has been dismissed from his position and expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea for large-scale corruption, according to the official KCNA agency. The sanctions were announced on Friday during a joint meeting attended by leader Kim Jong-un.

It is rare for such a fall from grace to be made public, especially with the direct involvement of the leader. Pak Chui Hol was accused of accepting bribes and misusing state funds, having an extravagant lifestyle. Kim Jong-un described his actions as a "political crime" and emphasized the importance of adhering to principles of integrity among officials.

Pak and other implicated officials were sent before the Supreme Court of North Korea, where they received sentences, although no further details were provided.