Kim Jong Il 'against succession'
Source: Agencies |
January 29, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Il's eldest son says his father is opposed to continuing the "family dynasty" into a third generation but has named his youngest son as heir to keep the country stable.
The comments by Kim Jong Nam, portrayed in the media as a casino-loving playboy, were published in a Japanese newspaper yesterday.
Kim Jong Il is preparing his country for a leadership change, apparently to his youngest son Kim Jong Un.
Hereditary succession "does not fit with socialism, and my father was against it as well," Tokyo Shimbun quoted Kim Jong Nam as saying. "My understanding is that (succession) was to stabilize the internal system. An unstable North Korea leads to instability in the region."
Kim Jong Nam is believed to have fallen out of favor after embarrassing the government in 2001 when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He frequents five-star hotels and expensive restaurants and spends much of his time in Macau - the center of Asian gambling.
He said he wanted his half brother "to become a leader who is respected by people. I want him to take over the great works my father has done. I want him to enrich people's lives."
He declined to comment on the health of his father, who reportedly suffered a stroke in 2008, but said he keeps in touch with family members.
The comments by Kim Jong Nam, portrayed in the media as a casino-loving playboy, were published in a Japanese newspaper yesterday.
Kim Jong Il is preparing his country for a leadership change, apparently to his youngest son Kim Jong Un.
Hereditary succession "does not fit with socialism, and my father was against it as well," Tokyo Shimbun quoted Kim Jong Nam as saying. "My understanding is that (succession) was to stabilize the internal system. An unstable North Korea leads to instability in the region."
Kim Jong Nam is believed to have fallen out of favor after embarrassing the government in 2001 when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He frequents five-star hotels and expensive restaurants and spends much of his time in Macau - the center of Asian gambling.
He said he wanted his half brother "to become a leader who is respected by people. I want him to take over the great works my father has done. I want him to enrich people's lives."
He declined to comment on the health of his father, who reportedly suffered a stroke in 2008, but said he keeps in touch with family members.
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