Seoul (CNN)North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is continuing to rule with an iron fist, having ordered the execution of about 15 senior officials so far this year, according to an assessment by South Korean intelligence agents, a lawmaker who attended a closed briefing said. 

Shin Kyung-min, a lawmaker with the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, told a handful of reporters that he had been given the information by the South Korean National Intelligence Service. 

CNN cannot independently confirm the executions. The nature of the intelligence supporting the National Intelligence Service allegations was also not immediately clear. North Korea is one of the most closed societies in the world. 

According to Shin, intelligence officials say Kim is ruling in an impromptu manner and does not countenance excuses or any views at variance with his own. 

He considers those a challenge to his authority, the intelligence officials said, according to Shin. 

For example, a senior official with Ministry of Forestry was executed for expressing dissatisfaction with the country's forestry program, the lawmaker said. 

North Korean defectors share their ordeals 

The vice chairman of the State Planning Commission was executed because he objected to changing the design of a science and technology hall from a rounded shape to one resembling a flower, the intelligence officials said, according to the lawmaker. 

And in March, according to the South Korean lawmaker, Kim executed on charges of espionage four members of the Unhasu Orchestra, including the general director, because of a scandal, Shin said. 

Kim became North Korea's Supreme Commander in December 2011 following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. According to the National Intelligence Service, he is reported to have executed 17 senior officials in 2012, 10 in 2013 and 41 in 2014.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who rules over North Korea?
2. Who is North Korea's head of state?
3. What is the name of the head of state of North Korea?
Q2:
1. How many executions has Kim Jong Un ordered?
2. What is the number of executions commanded by Kim Jong Un?
3. How many executions have been ordered to be carried out?
Q3:
1. What were the jobs of the people who were put to death?
2. What positions were the executed people in?
3. What sorts of jobs did the victims of executions do?
Q4:
1. What organization discovered the North Korean executions?
2. What organization found out that executions were being carried out in North Korea?
3. Which organization got word of executions going on in North Korea?
Q5:
1. Why were the senior officials executed?
2. What was the reason for executing the senior officials?
3. Why did the senior officials get knocked off?
Q6:
1. Can CNN prove the executions occurred?
2. Is CNN able to confirm that the executions were carried out?
3. Is it possible for CNN to provide independent confirmation of the executions?
Q7:
1. Did anyone witness the executions?
2. Are there any witnesses to the executions?
3. Does anyone admit to seeing the executions carried out?
Q8:
1. Is it dangerous to oppose the head of state of North Korea?
2. Is it dangerous to oppose Kim Jung Un?
3. Is speaking out against Kim Jung Un a dangerous idea?
