Analysis-Kim's reshuffles serve to keep North Korea elite in line as crises mount

FILE PHOTO: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un speaks at plenary meeting of 8th central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in this still image taken from KRT footage on June 16, 2021. KRT TV via REUTERS

SEOUL (Reuters) -What may be the most significant reshuffle of top North Korean officials in years by leader Kim Jong Un serves as a warning to the ruling elite, analysts say, including those he accused this week of causing a "great crisis" with coronavirus lapses.

Kim called a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea politburo on Tuesday and berated some party executives' neglect of duty, including failing to implement long-term measures to fight the pandemic, state media reported.