Ever since he was promoted to the youngest ever head of state at the age of 28 following the death of his father Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's action have been closely watched by the international media.

One of his first actions after taking office seemed like the obligatory threatening of nuclear war with South Korea. Lately he has been in the news for the execution of his uncle, whom he viewed as a political threat.

Now Kim Jong Un is taking that one step further by executing everyone in his uncle's family. Family punishments for the actions of one person are typically in North Korea, where future generations of the original perpetrator may be sentenced to prison camps.

A source said that "Extensive executions have been carried out for relatives of Jang Song Thaek. All relatives of Jang have been put to death, including even children.

"Some relatives were shot to death by pistol in front of other people if they resisted while being dragged out of their apartment homes. The executions of Jang's relatives mean that no traces of him should be left. The purge of the Jang Song-Thaek people is under way on an extensive scale from relatives and low-level officials."

The country of 24 million people has arguably the least freedoms of any country in the world in addition to severe food shortages. Experts say that Kim Jong Un's actions reveal his fear of opposing forces within his government.

USA Today reports: "The U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Ambassador Glyn Davies, is visiting Beijing Monday and Tuesday, to discuss China's troublesome neighbor and the regional response to North Korea's nuclear program. He then flies to South Korea and Japan. China is the North's only significant ally, and a vital source of food, fuel and diplomatic support."