Life of Kim Jong-nam

[Anchor Lead]

Although Kim Jong-nam was the late dictator Kim Jong-il's eldest son, he was pushed out of the succession line and had to give way to his younger half-brother, Kim Jong-un. Kim Jong-nam would spend the rest of his life overseas. Here’s a look back on his life.

[Pkg]

Kim Jong-nam was the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He was the child of Kim Jong-il and actress Song Hye-rim who was his father's first love and mistress. But first-born Kim Jong-nam failed to inherit his father's power. Rumors say that he fell out of favor with his father after he was caught at an airport for trying to enter Japan illegally in 2001. After Kim Jong-un took power, Kim Jong-nam had been living overseas, moving repeatedly between China, Southeast Asia and Europe. He was once spotted in France, where his son, Kim Han-sol, is studying.

[Soundbite] Kim Han-sol(Kim Jong-nam's Son (2013))

In 2012, Kim Jong-nam harshly criticized the three-generation succession structure of the North Korean regime in the book entitled "My Father, Kim Jong-il and I."

[Soundbite] Yoji Gomi(Author of "My Father, Kim Jong-il and I" (2012)) : "At first, he wanted to help Kim Jong-un. But the latter apparently ignored him. That's why his disappointment kept growing."

Kim Jong-nam felt increasingly insecure after his ties with Kim Jong-un went awry and his uncle and guardian, Jang Song-thaek, was executed. In 1997, Lee Han-yong, a nephew of Kim Jong-nam's mother, was assassinated in his house located on the outskirts of Seoul by a North Korean agent. Lee's younger sister also expressed concerns over her safety.

[Soundbite] Lee Nam-ok(Lee Han-young's Sister (Interview with CNN, 1997))

This is the reason why there have been constant rumors about Kim Jong-nam's death or exile.