seoul kim jong un sit september order sixth large north korea nuclear test hwang pyong sit side khaki military uniform conspicuous among suit table photos release state media time show hwang one kim most-trusted advisers face unspecified punishment order another man also sit exclusive table september choe ryong hae south korean intelligence officials believe information north korea often difficult obtain hard detail official confirmation pyongyang analysts say soon draw firm conclusions unspecified punishments move appear involve two kim top four advisers closely watch indications fracture within secretive inner circle come north korea face increase international pressure nuclear weapons program advisers compete suit kim fine say christopher green analyst crisis group hardwired autocracy underlings competition say hwang shy bespectacled general mid-60s close confidant kim jong un unprecedented rise top rungs north korea leadership space years 2014 become one powerful people outside rule kim family name chief general political bureau army powerful position mobilize military leader apparent punishment take additional mean orchestrate choe compete hwang past stand gain demotion accord south korea spy agency two men last see public together early last month watch gymnastics gala accord state media hwang since fade public view whereas choe rank official meet senior envoy china pyongyang last week kim shy away remove punish even favor leaders could become powerful enough threaten grip power say michael madden expert north korean leadership 38 north project u.s.-korea institute johns hopkins school advance study washington vice marshal hwang pyong could continue capacity operate without come back bite say hwang choe come south korea asian game 2014 high visit north korean officials rival south dress drab olive army uniform large officer cap hwang promote no.2 spot behind kim one week early tea lunch choe south korean officials wave crowd game close ceremony trip announce one day advance take many south korean observers surprise suggest may power struggle two men neither want yield high-profile visit choe subject political reeducation past appear gain influence since promote october party powerful central military commission accord south korean officials national intelligence service indicate choe head organisation guidance department ogd secretive body oversee appointments within north korea leadership punishment represent first time hwang face major blow stand say lee sang-keun north korea leadership expert ewha woman university institute unification study hwang reputation play respectful careful role around notoriously unpredictable kim photos release state media often show cover mouth politely laugh supreme leader punishment may reflect specific mistake hwang part could part wide effort kim ensure rule party retain control military lee say move part sweep ideological scrutiny political unit military first time 20 years accord kim byung-kee lawmaker south korea parliamentary intelligence committee could also effort prevent repeat major purge 2013 38 north madden say kim uncle second powerful man secretive state jang song thaek execute purge special military tribunal find guilty treason preemptively put hwang place mean kim might prevent become powerful could deal similar way madden say kim describe clip wing inside kim jong un 's inner circle top aide 's star fade