Kim Jong-nam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Jong-nam
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Kim Jong-nam
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| Born | 10 May 1971 Pyongyang, North Korea
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| Died | 13 February 2017 (aged 45) |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Nationality | North Korean |
| Alma mater | Kim Il-sung University |
| Political party | Workers' Party of Korea |
| Spouse(s) | Shin Jong-hui Lee Hye-kyong |
| Children | 6 (including Kim Han-sol) |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Kim Il-sung (grandfather) Kim Jong-un (half-brother) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  North Korea |
| Rank | .svg){kind=icon} Colonel |
Kim Jong-nam (born May 10, 1971 – died February 13, 2017) was the oldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. For several years, he was seen as the most likely person to take over from his father. However, he later lost this position.
Kim Jong-nam lived outside North Korea starting around 2003. He sometimes spoke out against his family's government. His younger half-brother, Kim Jong-un, became the chosen successor in 2010. Kim Jong-nam died in Malaysia in 2017. His death was believed to be an assassination using a dangerous chemical called VX nerve agent.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kim Jong-nam was born in Pyongyang, North Korea. His parents were Song Hye-rim and Kim Jong-il. His father did not send him to a regular school at first. Instead, he lived with his aunt, who taught him at home.
Later, Kim Jong-nam traveled to visit his grandmother in Moscow, which was then part of the Soviet Union. He spent his childhood attending international schools. These schools were in both Russia and Switzerland. He returned to North Korea in 1988.
Personality and Interests
People said Kim Jong-nam had a personality similar to his father's. His aunt described him as "hot-tempered, sensitive, and gifted in the arts." She also mentioned in 2000 that he "did not wish to succeed his father."
Like his father, Kim Jong-nam was very interested in films. He enjoyed writing scripts and making short films from a young age. His father even built a small movie set for him to use.
Early Career in North Korea
In 1998, Kim Jong-nam was given an important job. He was appointed to a senior position in the Ministry of Public Security. This was seen as a step toward becoming a future leader.
He was also reported to be in charge of the North Korean Computer Committee. This committee worked on developing the country's information technology (IT) industry. In January 2001, he went with his father to Shanghai, China. There, they discussed the IT industry with Chinese officials.
The Tokyo Disneyland Incident
In May 2001, Kim Jong-nam was stopped in Japan. He arrived at Narita International Airport with two women and a young boy. The boy was identified as his son. He was using a fake passport from the Dominican Republic with a Chinese name.
After being held, he was sent back to China. He said he was traveling to Japan to visit Tokyo Disneyland. This incident caused his father to cancel a planned trip to China. It was very embarrassing for the North Korean government.
Changes in Leadership Plans
Before the Tokyo incident, many people thought Kim Jong-nam would become North Korea's next leader. But in February 2003, the Korean People's Army started promoting his younger half-brothers. This was a big change for Kim Jong-nam's future.
By late 2003, reports said that Kim Jong-nam was living in Macau. His loss of favor was often linked to the Tokyo incident. However, Kim Jong-nam himself offered a different reason.
Speaking Out for Reform
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In an email to a Japanese newspaper, Kim Jong-nam explained his view. He wrote that after studying in Switzerland, he supported "reform and market-opening." He believed this led his father to think he had become "a capitalist."
Kim Jong-nam was the only member of his family to speak directly to media outside North Korea. In January 2009, he stated he had "no interest" in leading North Korea. He said it was only his father's decision.
In late September 2010, his younger half-brother, Kim Jong-un, was named the next leader. Kim Jong-un became the Supreme Leader of North Korea in December 2011. This happened after their father, Kim Jong-il, passed away. The two half-brothers had never met. This was because of an old custom of raising possible successors separately.
Safety Concerns and Exile
According to South Korean intelligence, Kim Jong-un had ordered his half-brother to be killed. In 2012, there was another attempt on Kim Jong-nam's life. Later that year, he reportedly sent a letter to his half-brother. In the letter, he asked for his life to be spared.
In late 2012, he was seen in Singapore. He had left Macau because he suspected he was being targeted. A person named Kim Yong-su had confessed to planning an attack on Kim Jong-nam in July 2010.
Assassination
On February 13, 2017, Kim Jong-nam died. He was exposed to VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. Many believed his death was ordered by his half-brother, Kim Jong-un. Four North Korean suspects left the airport soon after the attack. They traveled back to Pyongyang.
An Indonesian woman, Siti Aisyah, and a Vietnamese woman, Doan Thi Huong, were charged. They said they thought they were part of a TV prank. In March 2019, Siti Aisyah was released. The charge against her was dropped. In April, the murder charge against Huong was also dropped. She pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. She was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. However, her term was reduced, and she was released on May 3, 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Kim Jong-nam para niños
