Kim's eldest son opposes power transfer
Source: Agencies |
October 13, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE casino-loving eldest son of North Korea's top leader Kim Jong Il - once tipped to succeed him before trying to sneak into Japan to go to Disneyland - says he opposes a hereditary transfer of power to his youngest half-brother.
It's the first sign of public discord in the succession process, though analysts said Kim Jong Nam spends so much time outside his native land that his opinion carries little weight.
The chubby 39-year-old Kim, the oldest of three brothers who were in the running to take over North Korea, is the closest thing the country has to a playboy.
Unlike many of his countrymen back home who lack the resources and connections to roam overseas, Kim travels freely and spends much of his time in China or the country's special autonomous region of Macau - the center of Asian gambling with its Las Vegas-style casinos.
He sports the family pot belly and favors newsboy caps and an unshaven face while frequenting upscale hotels and restaurants. In June, he was photographed in Macau wearing blue Ferragamo loafers.
Speaking in Korean, he told Japan's TV Asahi, in an interview from Beijing aired this week, that he is "against third-generation succession," but added, "I think there were internal factors. If there were internal factors, (we) should abide by them."
"I have no regrets about it. I wasn't interested in it and I don't care," Kim said, when asked whether he is OK with the succession plan.
Kim Jong Un, believed to be 26, appeared with his father at Pyongyang celebrations on Sunday marking the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, saluting troops marching past in a massive military parade and waving to the crowd.
That was less than two weeks after he was named to a top political post and promoted to four-star general.
Andrei Lankov, a Russian expert on North Korea at Seoul's Kookmin University, said Kim Jong Nam's remarks were "almost a challenge," but noted he has little influence.
"I don't see them rallying to Kim Jong Nam," he added, stressing that key generals far prefer Kim Jong Un, who they see as young, inexperienced and thus easy to control.
Kim Jong Il is known to have three sons - one from his second wife and two from his third. He favors his youngest, Jong Un, who looks and is said to act like his father, according to the leader's former sushi chef.
Kim Jong Un studied at a Swiss school and learned to speak English, German and French, news reports have said.
In contrast, Kim often derided the middle son, Jong Chul, as "girlish," said the chef in a 2003 memoir.
Jong Nam is widely believed to have fallen out of favor after embarrassing the government in 2001 by being caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport.
Experts said he will most likely continue living abroad, with fewer reasons than ever to return to North Korea.
It's the first sign of public discord in the succession process, though analysts said Kim Jong Nam spends so much time outside his native land that his opinion carries little weight.
The chubby 39-year-old Kim, the oldest of three brothers who were in the running to take over North Korea, is the closest thing the country has to a playboy.
Unlike many of his countrymen back home who lack the resources and connections to roam overseas, Kim travels freely and spends much of his time in China or the country's special autonomous region of Macau - the center of Asian gambling with its Las Vegas-style casinos.
He sports the family pot belly and favors newsboy caps and an unshaven face while frequenting upscale hotels and restaurants. In June, he was photographed in Macau wearing blue Ferragamo loafers.
Speaking in Korean, he told Japan's TV Asahi, in an interview from Beijing aired this week, that he is "against third-generation succession," but added, "I think there were internal factors. If there were internal factors, (we) should abide by them."
"I have no regrets about it. I wasn't interested in it and I don't care," Kim said, when asked whether he is OK with the succession plan.
Kim Jong Un, believed to be 26, appeared with his father at Pyongyang celebrations on Sunday marking the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, saluting troops marching past in a massive military parade and waving to the crowd.
That was less than two weeks after he was named to a top political post and promoted to four-star general.
Andrei Lankov, a Russian expert on North Korea at Seoul's Kookmin University, said Kim Jong Nam's remarks were "almost a challenge," but noted he has little influence.
"I don't see them rallying to Kim Jong Nam," he added, stressing that key generals far prefer Kim Jong Un, who they see as young, inexperienced and thus easy to control.
Kim Jong Il is known to have three sons - one from his second wife and two from his third. He favors his youngest, Jong Un, who looks and is said to act like his father, according to the leader's former sushi chef.
Kim Jong Un studied at a Swiss school and learned to speak English, German and French, news reports have said.
In contrast, Kim often derided the middle son, Jong Chul, as "girlish," said the chef in a 2003 memoir.
Jong Nam is widely believed to have fallen out of favor after embarrassing the government in 2001 by being caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport.
Experts said he will most likely continue living abroad, with fewer reasons than ever to return to North Korea.
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