North Korean official fired

A top North Korean finance official has reportedly been fired following a chaotic currency revaluation.



On November 30, 2009, a decree was issued announcing that old North Korean banknotes would be swapped for new ones at a rate of 100 to one.



But the amount of currency people were allowed to exchange was reportedly restricted.



Any cash held above the limit would be worthless - effectively wiping out people\'s savings



Pak Nam-Ki, the Communist Party\'s director for planning and finance, has reportedly been absent from public activities since early January.



South Korea\'s Intelligence Service says it could not confirm his sacking.



But an intelligence official told the Associated Press news agency it had been closely monitoring Mr. Pak’s whereabouts and he had recently disappeared.