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China-Japan-Koreas

The Tenuous Position of Kimmie's Eldest Son

2011-12-22

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's death has put some international spotlight on his eldest son ~~Fredo~~ Jong-nam, who lives in virtual exile overseas. Born to Song Hye-rim, Kim's second wife who died in 2002, Jong-nam had been regarded as a potential heir until the late 1990s.

But he fell out of favor in 2001 when he was arrested at Narita International Airport in Tokyo traveling on a false passport. Kim senior then turned his attention to his younger sons Jong-chol and Jong-un by his third and favorite wife Ko Yong-hui.

Kim Jong-nam regularly visited Pyongyang until his father had a stroke in summer 2008. But since Kim Jong-un was anointed heir to the hereditary throne in January 2009, he lived an itinerant life in mainly in Macau and Beijing and stayed well away from North Korea. Experts say he may not be safe and there have been rumors of assassination attempts by his younger brother, who is desperate to consolidate his position.
I can handle things! I'm schmart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm schmart and I want respect!
A source familiar with the internal North Korean affairs said China prefers Kim Jong-nam, who is pro-Chinese and reform-minded, and could end up backing him for the leadership in case the Kim Jong-un regime fails.

Posted by:Steve White

#8 So, offer him a fortune and a safe heaven---a lot cheaper than fighting.

Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-12-22 11:01

#7 It is an allergic reaction.

Posted by: DarthVader 2011-12-22 10:26

#6 Fluffy.

Posted by: Fred 2011-12-22 10:10

#5 He's not fat, he's just big boned...

Posted by: Raj 2011-12-22 09:20

#4 Why is it that Kimmie Senior's kids are fat? Everybody else in N. Korea are on the verge of starvation?

(Yes, I know the answer)

Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2011-12-22 07:45

#3 Wow. This could be fun. I might even buy popcorn.

Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2011-12-22 04:20

#2 So the Chinese are protecting a legitimate pretender to North Korea's throne.

Jong-Nam is objectively a sword dangling over whoever rules North Korea as heir to the Kim Il Sung regime.

If the need arises he could be installed as North Korea's ruler, formally legitimizing a Chinese intervention (see Puyi and Manchukou.)

Posted by: Lumpy Unairt5851 2011-12-22 03:27

#1 Maybe prove to be a moot point becaUSE, AS PER world mil forum, HU JINTAO'S MOST LIKELY 2012 SUCCESSOR amy have to decide on China's response to post-JONG-IL NORTH KOREA, i.e. IIUC whether to continhue proping up the Kim Regime ["business as usual"] or else treat the DPRK AS A DE FACTO, ALBEIT "AUTONOMOUS", CHINESE PROVINCE???

Iff The Kim Family-Regime are lucky, a best-case scenario may see the DPRK end up as a COUNTRY-SCALE, CHINESE VERSION OF [post-UK] HONG KONG OR SHANGHAI???

Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-12-22 01:06

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