Communist maverick, oldest son of North Korea's dictator, enjoys the good life in Macau
Thursday, April 23, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
East-Asia-Intel.com
Kim Jong-Il's first-born son told Japanese reporters his country's recent launch of a long-range missile would escalate tensions between North Korea and its neighbors and that he is "very concerned."
Kim Jong-Nam, once considered a major candidate to succeed his father as ruler of North Korea, was questioned by reporters at a hotel in Macau on April 8 about the April 5 missile launch.
Unlike his poverty-stricken, politically-suppressed comrades, Jong-Nam, 38, has lived at a luxury villa in the former Portuguese enclave for the past 10 years after losing his father's favor for his maverick lifestyle. He has often been spotted at hotels, casinos, restaurants, bars and saunas in Macau and China.
"I don't have any information on the launching. But if you ask me how I feel about it, I could tell you that I am keenly observing the reaction of the international community on the launching," he said in English, according to Japan's TBS television.
He also denied he would succeed his father.
"Would I be traveling in Macau dressed like this if I was the successor? I am just one of his sons," said Kim who was dressed in exercise clothes.
"I am free. So I think, if I was the successor, you can't see me in Macau," Kim said. "My father is an important person, but I am not."
Jong-Nam had been widely seen as competing with his two younger half-brothers, Jong-Chol and Jong-Un, for the country's top job.
Jong-Un reportedly ran in parliamentary elections in March, but did not appear at the session of the Supreme People's Assembly on April 9. Among Kim Jong-Il's three sons, none is officially known to hold a parliamentary post.
Some analysts say Jong-Nam still has a chance of succeeding his father because the first son is generally favored in North Korea, where Confucian traditions that honor seniority still hold sway.
__ Full Text, Subscribers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMENT LETTER TO THE EDITOR --------------------------------------------------------------------------------