Is this a joke? North Korea's defence chief has reportedly been executed for falling asleep in an event

North Korea's defence chief has reportedly been executed by anti-aircraft gun as punishment for falling asleep at an event attended by Kim Jong-Un.

Defence minister Hyon Yong Chol, 66, was charged with treason after having shown "disrespect" to Mr Kim at the military event and allegedly talking back to him.

The claims were made by South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) to politicians in a closed-door parliamentary briefing.

It said hundreds of officials watched the execution in late April at a shooting range at the Kanggon Military Training Area, north of Pyongyang.

He was killed by a firing squad using anti-aircraft guns, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Hyon, who had been in the role for less than a year, was also thought to have voiced complaints against Mr Kim and not followed his orders several times.

He was arrested late last month and executed three days later without legal proceedings, the NIS said.

Na wah o!

His crime was falling asleep!

Can one cheat nature?