Kim Jong-il has something to teach the world after all

Today's news from a weird corner of the world. Meanwhile in the very weirdest corners of the world, the people that led their economies off the cliff are still fawned over and adored in Davos pow-wows.

SEOUL, March 18 (UPI) -- North Korea has reportedly executed the country's former director of financial planning on charges of treason, sources say.

The sources say Pak Nam-gi was executed by a firing squad in Pyongyang last week for intentionally ruining the national economy, The Korea Herald reported Thursday.

Pak is being blamed for last year's failed currency reform and growing public unrest over North Korea's faltering economy, one unnamed source is quoted as saying.

The North is reportedly describing Pak as "a landlord's son who snuck into the revolutionary ranks to intentionally wreck the economy."

The South Korean Unification Ministry says it is unable to officially confirm reports of Pak's execution.

Pak had served as Kim Jong-il's key economic aide.