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Kim Jong-nam

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For other people with the same name, see Kim Jeong-nam. Not to be confused with North Korean politician Kim Yong-nam.
Kim Jong-nam
김정남
Personal details
Born(1971-05-10)10 May 1971
Pyongyang, North Korea
Died13 February 2017 (aged 45)
Sepang, Malaysia
Political party Workers' Party of Korea
SpouseShin Jong-hui
RelationsKim Jong-il (father)
Song Hye-rim (mother)
Kim Il-sung (grandfather)
Kim Sul-song (sister)
Kim Jong-un (half brother)
Kim Jong-chul (half brother)
ChildrenSon (Kim Han-sol) (born c. 1995)
Son (Kim Jimmy) (born c. 1997)
Daughter (Kim Sol-hui) (born c. 1998)
ResidenceMacau
Singapore
Malaysia
Alma materKim Il-sung University
Military service
Allegiance North Korea
Branch/service Korean People's Army
Kim Jong-nam
Chosŏn'gŭl
김정남
Hancha
金正男
Revised RomanizationGim Jeong-nam
McCune–ReischauerKim Chŏng-nam

Template:Korean name Kim Jong-nam (Chosŏn'gŭl: 김정남; Hanja: 金正男; 10 May 1971 – 13 February 2017) was the eldest son of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. From roughly 1994 to 2001, he was considered to be the heir apparent to his father and the next leader of North Korea.[1] Following a much-publicized botched attempt to secretly enter Japan using a fake passport and visit Tokyo Disneyland in May 2001, he was thought to have fallen out of favor with his father.

From at least 2003 onwards, Kim Jong-nam lived in exile outside North Korea. His younger paternal half-brother Kim Jong-un was named heir apparent in September 2010.[2] In exile, Jong-nam became known as an occasional critic of his family's regime and an advocate for reform.[3] Kim Jong-nam was assissinated in Malaysia in February 2017, being attacked with poisoned needles by two females at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Life and career

Early life

Kim Jong-nam was born in Pyongyang, to Song Hye-rim, one of three women known to have had children with Kim Jong-il. Because Kim Jong-il aimed to keep his affair with Song a secret due to the disapproval of his father Kim Il-sung, he initially kept Jong-nam out of school, instead sending him to live with Song's older sister Song Hye-rang, who tutored him at home.[4]

Kim Jong-nam is reported to have a personality similar to that of his father, and has been described by his aunt as being "hot-tempered, sensitive, and gifted in the arts".[5] The same aunt also said in 2000 that Jong-nam "does not wish to succeed his father".[5] Like Kim Jong-il, he is interested in film: he has written scripts and short films since he was young.[5] His father also created a small movie set for him to use.[5]

According to the Japanese magazine Shūkan Shinchō, Kim Jong-nam has made several clandestine visits to Japan, starting as early as 1995.[5] A book about the Kim family, Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader by Bradley K. Martin, reported that during the late 1990s, Kim Jong-nam became "a familiar figure" at a bathhouse in Yoshiwara, one of Tokyo's red light districts.[5]

1998–2001: Time as heir apparent

In 1998, Kim Jong-nam was appointed to a senior position in the Ministry of Public Security of the DPRK, as a future leader.[6] He was also reported to have been appointed head of the DPRK Computer Committee, in charge of developing an information technology (IT) industry. In January 2001, he accompanied his father to Shanghai, where he had talks with Chinese officials on the IT industry.[6]

2001: Tokyo Disneyland incident

In May 2001, Kim was arrested on arrival at Narita International Airport accompanied by two women and a four-year-old boy identified as his son. He was traveling on a forged Dominican Republic passport using a Chinese alias, Pang Xiong,[7] which means "fat bear" in Mandarin Chinese.[8] After being detained he was deported to China.[9] Kim apparently told his questioners that he was in Japan to visit Tokyo Disneyland.[6] The incident caused his father to cancel a planned visit to China due to embarrassment.[6]

2001–2005: Loss of favor

Until the Tokyo incident, Kim was expected to become leader of the country after his father. In February 2003, the Korean People's Army began a propaganda campaign under the slogan "The Respected Mother is the Most Faithful and Loyal Subject to the Dear Leader Comrade Supreme Commander." This was interpreted as praise of Ko Young-hee, such that the campaign was designed to promote Kim Jong-chul or Kim Jong-un, her sons.[10]

It is believed that Kim Jong-un, Jong-nam's youngest half-brother, became the new heir apparent due to this incident.[11] Since the loyalty of the Army is the real foundation of the Kim family's continuing hold on power in the DPRK, this was a serious development for Kim Jong-nam's prospects.[11] In late 2003, it was reported that Kim Jong-nam was living in Macau, lending strength to this belief.[12]

Kim Jong-un was left in charge while his father was on a state visit to China.[11] Outsider observers also believe that the North Korea's sinking of a South Korean ship in March 2010 was part of a Byzantine attempt to secure succession for the youngest Kim.[11]

Kim says he fell out of favour because he had become an advocate for reform after being educated in Switzerland, leading his father to decide that he had turned "into a capitalist". In an email to the editor of Tokyo Shimbun, Kim wrote "After I went back to North Korea following my education in Switzerland, I grew further apart from my father because I insisted on reform and market-opening and was eventually viewed with suspicion," adding "My father felt very lonely after sending me to study abroad. Then my half brothers Jong-chol and Jong-un and half sister Yo-jong were born and his adoration was moved on to them. And when he felt that I'd turn into a capitalist after living abroad for years, he shortened the overseas education of my brothers and sister."[13]

2005–2017: Rise of Kim Jong-un

It was reported in the South China Morning Post on 1 February 2007, that Kim Jong-nam had been living incognito with his family in Macau, for some three years, and that this was a cause of some embarrassment to both the Macanese and Chinese governments.[14][15]

South Korean television and the South China Morning Post reported in 2007 that Kim Jong-nam had a Portuguese passport. However, Portuguese authorities and the Portuguese consul in Macau, Pedro Moitinho de Almeida, stated that if Kim had such a document it would be a forgery.[16]

In January 2009, Kim Jong-nam said he had "no interest" in taking power in North Korea after his father, stating that it is only for him to decide.[17]

In June 2010, Kim Jong-nam gave a brief interview to the Associated Press in Macau while waiting for a hotel elevator.[18] He told the reporter that he had "no plans" to defect to Europe, as the press had recently rumoured.[18] Kim Jong-nam lived in an apartment on the southern tip of Macau's Coloane Island until 2007.[19] An anonymous South Korean official reported in October 2010 that Jong-nam had not lived in Macau for "months", and shuttled between China and "another country."[19]

In late September 2010, his younger half-brother Kim Jong-un was made heir-apparent.[20][21] Kim Jong-un was declared Supreme Leader of North Korea on 24 December 2011 after the death of Kim Jong-il.

On 1 January 2012, the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Kim Jong-nam secretly flew to Pyongyang from Macau on 17 December 2011, after learning about his father's death that day and was presumed to have accompanied Kim Jong-un when paying his last respects to their father. He left after a few days to return to Macau and was not in attendance at the funeral in order to avoid speculation about the succession.[22]

On 14 January 2012, Kim Jong-nam was seen in Beijing waiting for an Air China flight to Macau. Kim confirmed his identity to a group of South Koreans which included a professor at Incheon University, and told them he usually travels alone.[23]

In a book released in 2012 titled My Father, Kim Jong Il, and Me by Japanese journalist Yoji Gomi who had interviewed Kim Jong-nam on numerous occasions, it was claimed that Kim Jong-nam expected the leadership of Kim Jong-un to fail, citing that he was too inexperienced and young. He also stated that "Without reforms, North Korea will collapse, and when such changes take place, the regime will collapse."[24]

In late 2012, Kim Jong-nam appeared in Singapore one year after leaving Macau.[25] He left Macau allegedly on suspicions that he was being targeted for assassination by Kim Jong-un; South Korean authorities had formerly indicted a North Korean agent by the name of Kim Yong-su who confessed to planning an attack on Kim Jong-nam in July 2010.[26]

Murder

On 14 February 2017, Kim was assassinated with poisoned needles at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia[27][28] by two unidentified women, speculated to be North Korean agents.[29][30]

Personal life

The South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim Jong-nam had two wives, at least one mistress, and several children.[19] His first wife, Shin Jong-hui (born c. 1980), lives at a home called Dragon Villa on the northern outskirts of Beijing.[19] His second wife, Lee Hye-kyong (born c. 1970), their son Han-sol (born c. 1995) and their daughter Sol-hui (born c. 1998) live in a modest 12-story apartment building in Macau;[19] Jong-nam's mistress, former Air China flight attendant Chen Jia-Xi (born c. 1980), also lives in Macau.[19]

Jong-nam was often given attention by the media for his gambling and extravagant spending.[31]



See also

References

  1. ^ "Kim Jong-un's Big Threat: His Older Brother - Globalo". 23 August 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  2. ^ Christian Science Monitor article: "Kim Jong-un confirmed North Korean heir ahead of massive military parade."
  3. ^ "North Korea's leader will not last long, says Kim Jong-un's brother". The Guardian. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  4. ^ Lee, Adriana S (23 June 2003). "Secret Lives". Time Magazine. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty by Bradley K. Martin, pp. 697".
  6. ^ a b c d Ryall, Julian (14 February 2017). "Profile: Who was Kim Jong-nam, the exiled half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  7. ^ "金正日夫人去世使继承人问题又增悬疑". Retrieved 28 October 2008. Template:Cn icon
  8. ^ "Death of Kim's consort: Dynastic implications" (2 September 2004). Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  9. ^ Taylor, Adam (22 May 2015). "The sad story of Kim Jong Chul, the North Korean leader's brother and Eric Clapton megafan". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  10. ^ Allen, Dan (19 December 2011). "The Maybe-Gay Son of Kim Jong-Il Definitely Won't Be North Korea's Next Leader". Queerty. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d Choe, Sang-Hun (27 May 2010). "Succession May Be Behind N. Korea's New Belligerence". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Loh, Andrew. "Kim Jong-un's half-brother takes refuge in S'pore and Malaysia". The Global Citizen. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Kim Jong-nam Says N.Korean Regime Won't Last Long". Chosun Ilbo (English Edition). 17 January 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  14. ^ Toy, Mary-Anne (2 February 2007). "Kim's playboy son parties in Macau". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  15. ^ Alfano, Seanc (1 February 2007). "cReport: Kim Jong Il's Son Living In Macau". CBS News. Associated Press. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Filho de Kim Jong-il com passaporte português" (1 February 2007). Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  17. ^ "Kim Jong-Il's eldest son has 'no interest' in leadership". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  18. ^ a b NKorean leader's son gives interview. Seattle Times.
  19. ^ a b c d e f The Chosun Ilbo article: "Where Is Kim Jong-il's Eldest Son?."
  20. ^ Kim Jong-il's grandson seen at concert, RTHK, 18 July 2009
  21. ^ North Koreans Bloster power of Ruler's Kin, by Marin Frackler and Mark McDonald, New York Times 29 September 2010
  22. ^ Kim's eldest in 'secret visit' to see body (AFP, 1 January 2012)
  23. ^ Kim Jong-nam Resurfaces in Beijing (The Chosun Ilbo, 16 January 2012)
  24. ^ Kim Jong Il's other son expects North Korean regime to fail, journalist says, CNN. 17 January 2012.
  25. ^ Kim Jong-il's son reappears in Singapore, Telegraph UK, 15 November 2012.
  26. ^ Kim Jong-il's son reappears in Singapore one year after fleeing Macau, Shanghaiist. 16 November 2012.
  27. ^ Park, Ju-min; Sipalan, Joseph (14 February 2017). "North Korean leader's half brother killed in Malaysia". Reuters. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  28. ^ "Kim Jong-un's half-brother 'assassinated with poisoned needles at airport'". The Independent. 14 February 2017.
  29. ^ Ryall, Julian; Rothwell, James (14 February 2017). "Kim Jong-un's half-brother 'assassinated in Malaysia by female North Korean spies with poison needle'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  30. ^ McCurry, Justin (14 February 2017). "Kim Jong-un's half-brother reportedly killed in Malaysia". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  31. ^ Words with meaning
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