North Korea’s number two leader was linked to a trip to Europe last month before arriving back to North Korea to fill in as the country’s number two leader:

The man believed to be North Korea’s second most powerful man made a secret visit to France, Italy and Switzerland in March, according to reports on Sunday. Jang Song-taek (63) is the administrative director of the North Korean Workers Party.

A North Korea expert said it is unclear why Jang visited Europe. “But in view of how long he stayed and the countries he visited, we presume that he may have met with the French medical team who treated North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, or his visit may have had something to do with the purchase of luxury yachts for the Kim family.”

Japanese news agency Jiji Press on Apr. 5 reported European financial authorities confiscated millions of dollars in contract money for two Italian-made yachts worth US$20 million North Korea had attempted to buy.   [Chosun Ilbo]

So while people starve in North Korea, Jang is busy buying multi-million dollar yachts for the ruling regime.