In February 1978, Choi Eun-hee, a South Korean actress kidnapped by North Korea, was invited to the residence of Kim Jong-il, where a family party was being held to celebrate his 36th birthday. Choi asked one chubby little child what his name was. The child shot back, "Why does she want to know my name?" Kim told the child that he should introduce himself when an adult asks his name. Throughout the party, Kim constantly kept the seven-year-old boy at his side.

As a child, Jong-nam, Kim's oldest son, got all his father's love and attention. On his birthdays, Jong-nam would dress up in military uniform and show off his insignias. In mid-April each year, just before his birthday on May 10, North Korea mobilized teams of people whose mission was to buy presents. They traveled to Japan, Hong Kong, Germany and Austria to buy gifts for the child. Diamond-studded watches, gold-plated toy guns, electronic games, luxury brand clothes and shoes were purchased. They would come back to North Korea with US$1 million worth of merchandise, according to a book on North Korea's "royal family" by Lee Han-young.

Kim sent Jong-nam to a private school in Geneva, Switzerland in 1980. This is how he became fluent in English and French. While Jong-nam was studying in Geneva, Kim had two more sons -- Jong-chul and Jong-un -- with a dancer named Ko Young-hee, and Jong-nam now had to share his love with two other children.

Jong-nam had always been considered as the top candidate to succeed his father, but a comment he made in the late 1990s to the children of high-ranking North Korean officials became a big problem. He vowed to open North Korea and implement reforms when he became the heir apparent.

Kim Jong-il is said finally to have lost confidence in Jong-nam in 1996, when Song Hye-rang, the boy's aunt and mother of Lee Han-young, defected to the West. Jong-nam has been wandering the world since early 2001, when he was expelled from Japan after attempting to enter the country on a forged Dominican passport. Even after Ko Young-hee's death in 2004, Jong-nam was not allowed to freely enter Pyongyang. During his occasional encounters with journalists overseas, Jong-nam would utter a few words, but always avoided answering questions about the succession.

But in January this year, Kim Jong-nam did broach the taboo subject, saying it was a matter for his father to decide. And 10 days ago, he said it was Japan's right to defend itself by intercepting North Korea's missile, directly contradicting the North's official stance that it would consider this as an act of war. And in an interview with Japan’s TBS on Wednesday, Jong-nam said, "Would I be traveling in Macau dressed like this [in sweats] if I was the successor?"

His frank comments suggest that he has been removed from the list of possible successors. It seems that not even Kim Jong-il, who is treated like a deity in North Korea, can get his children to turn out the way he wants them to.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0904100021.html

If this comment is true, then it is a real lost for the korean people that he is not the successor.

China is actully protecting Kim Jong Nam from Kim Jong Un, who tried to assassinate him.

I am pretty sure thats just a rumor... Why would china protect him if he is not going to be the King....

Just rumors, who knows China might be dealing business with 3rd Kim right now.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/as...na-1706931.html

Btw, thx for sharing Kim Jong Nam's story.

Kim jong Nam was spotted recently in macu and beijing, China is probaby keeping Nam in case of a north korean collapse.

... China already control food and fuel aid. As long as those thing flow into NK, I dont see how NK will collaspe... Unless the generals decided to take the throne from Kim jong un. But if such were the case, how would kim jong Nam help?

Kim Jong Nam's people inside NKorea were arrested and removed from their position.
That's why there is rumors going around how Jong Un wants his elder bro dead.

Even China supports Kim Jong Nam to be the next dear leader, Jong Nam already lost his power in NKorea.
That is why he was living in overseas all this time. More like his father was protecting him from his own ruling party.

I actually want Jong Nam to be next NKorea's leader considering he have been foreign influenced and much easier to talk.
I'm sure SKoreans and Japanese don't mind him rather than egoistic Jong Un preparing another Nuke test this weekend.

Why people here often forgetting NKorea's real ruling elites are actually NKorea's worker's union party? couple of hundreds of them currently seized control over NK regime right now, they are the one who supporting Jong Un.

May be Jong Un is more smarter than his older bro, he's got NK's military behind him.

China can not topple Jong Un if Jong Un's people taken control over military and politics.

If NK collapse, China can install Kim Jong Nam as successor, instead of NK taking overby military generals or by Sk/American armies.

That depends how NK collapse. If you are thinking China will cut aid to force a collaspe...that can be really really ugly. It will work ... but the starvation period will be very very ugly. And you never know what the NK union party will do as last act of desperation.

If NK collaspe due to a 3rd party invasion....Kim jong Nam wont be much use.


There is a 3rd option: Chinese agents should assassinate the 2nd and the 3rd sons. Then the NK party will have no choice but to let Kim jong Nam succeed.

If NK collapses, then SKoreans and NKoreans will join hand.
This is why China have been supporting the fragile NK regime for decade.

btw, did you created anther account called Kimjongnam?

There are no Chinese agents inside of NK that can do such thing. I don't think NKorean agents will allow that.
That's pretty much Chinese AF member's wet dream.

NK will collapse? You people must read too much Chosunilbo.

It is a wet dream.

But "kimjong@@k" said Kim jong Nam is worth keeping incase NK collaspe. I have no idea how NK can collaspe under the current situation.

"kimjong@@k" is "Kimjongun", same Taiwanese troll who got banned before.

LOL! First he abducts her and then admonishes his son to introduce himself to her. Looks like something out of a B-rated horror flick.

I'm all for bombing North Korea.


A strike on Pyongyang would make Kim $hit his pants.

it won't kill these hardcore party members and Kim's clan.
What US allies need is support the opposition in NK and make them revolt against to current regime.

US should have change the regime of Nk instead of Iraq.

This guy just wants a normal life. He doesn't want to live in a boring communist $hithole like North Korea. He doesnt want to be caught up with the psycho politics there.

He wants to live the exciting life in the gambling paradise of Macau. Let him be. He should be giving amnesty and just enjoy his life there.

I have to agree with this 100%. Kim Jong Nam is a perfect candidate for the Chinese. The guy is a playboy, weak, lacks any authority, and prone to manipulation. He's more interested in mangas and gambling than ruling over North Korea.
A weakling like that, he'll be very useful to the Chinese puppet government of North Korea. That's why I believe China will grant refugee status and keep him around until the time comes.

I think no nation on Earth would be divided for ever , except China *
* HongKong , Macau, Taiwan , Singapore