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Phone intercepts of Kim Jong-Il's son reveal tension in Pyongayang
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Special to World Tribune.com
EAST-ASIA-INTEL.COM
Thursday, May 11, 2006
An East Asian intelligence service intercepted the telephone calls of Kim Jong-Nam, eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, according to press reports.
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Kim Jong-Nam being escorted to his plane in Japan in 2001, after being deported.
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The incident, in May 2001, involved Kim’s attempt to enter Japan on a forged passport. He was detained and later deported.
Kim had called Kim Jong-Il’s younger sister, Kim Kyung-Hee, who was overhead complaining about her experiences with Kim Jong-Il’s regime. Kim had ordered the demotion of her husband, Jang Sung-Taek, from his post as a department head in the ruling Workers Party. He was recently rehabilitated.
The Sankei Shimbun said the intercepts highlighted differences within the regime.
Top North Korean party and military officials are split into three groups on the issue of who will succeed Kim Jong-Il.
Kim reportedly told close associates that he will not appoint his successor until he reaches age 70, and that he plans to hold power while 80 or 90. He is currently 63.
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