Why and by whom was the brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Nam killed? Death of Kim Jong-nam: the reason for the brutal reprisal of Kim Jong-un's brother is named Putin reminded experts of Kim Jong-un with a speech about the latest weapons

A Korean man in his 40s felt unwell at Kuala Lumpur Airport. He was sent to a nearby hospital, but died en route in an ambulance. An ambulance employee told local media that the deceased’s documents indicated his last name as Kim.

According to the Yonhap news agency, the deceased is the half-brother of the DPRK leader, Kim Jong Nam. South Korean TV channel Chosun reports that he was killed by two women, presumably North Korean intelligence agents, using poisoned needles. Immediately after the attack, the women, according to media sources, caught a taxi and fled the scene.

The Kim family tree shown by South Korean TV channel Chosun

Local police confirmed that the dead man was indeed Kim Jong Nam.

The police said that an unknown woman approached Kim Jong Nam in the departure area of ​​Kuala Lumpur International Airport and threw a handkerchief soaked in some kind of liquid over his head.

The brother of the North Korean leader felt a burning sensation in his eyes. The murder occurred around 8 a.m. on February 14 local time. Kim Jong Nam was about to board a flight to Macau.

The death of Kim Jong Nam became the second case of violent killing of relatives of Kim Chem Un since he assumed the post of chairman of the Communist Party of the DPRK. In 2013, the dictator's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, was executed after being accused of committing a number of crimes against the state, including "undermining the unity and cohesion of the party."

Kim Jong Nam is the eldest son of North Korea's former leader, who died in 2011. Jong Nam was born from an extramarital affair with South Korean actress Song Hye Rim. At the time their romance began, the actress was married to one of the country's most famous writers. She divorced her husband and moved into the residence of her lover for several years (Kim Jong Il did not yet hold the post of head of state). The then leader of the DPRK, Kim Il Sung, did not approve of his son’s relationship with a “divorcee,” the daughter of South Korean communists. As a result, Song Hye Rim and Kim Jong Il broke up.

Kim Jong Nam's mother, who suffered from serious nervous diseases, went abroad for treatment - it was reported that she spent the rest of her life in Moscow, where she died, according to various sources, in 2002 or 2012.

Kim Jong Nam, like his younger brother, was educated abroad, in Switzerland. In an interview with Japanese media in 2004, he said that his father, Kim Jong Il, feared that his eldest son would "turn into a capitalist" during his years abroad, so he shortened the study abroad period for the rest of his children, two sons and two daughters. Kim Jong Nam also said that his time in Switzerland inspired him to come up with several ideas for reforms in the DPRK.

However, in 2001, Chen Nam fell out of favor with his father after he was detained at a Japanese airport in the company of two women and his four-year-old son while trying to enter the country using false documents.

Kim Jong Nam presented the border guards with a fake Dominican Republic passport in the name of Pang Xiong, which means “fat bear” in Mandarin Chinese.

According to him, he wanted to go to Japanese Disneyland with his family. Kim Jong Nam was deported to China. Since then, he has lived in virtual exile, moving between Macau, Singapore, Indonesia and France. According to media reports, he was also deprived of funding. In particular, several years ago he was kicked out of a hotel in Macau because he owed $15 thousand.

After the death of his father, Kim Jong Nam was considered one of the most likely contenders for the post of leader of North Korea. However, he himself has repeatedly admitted that he does not have such political ambitions. For example, even before his father’s death, he said: “Personally, I am against the transfer of power from generation to generation. I hope my little brother will do everything to keep people in North Korea prosperous."

After his younger brother took over as leader of the DPRK, and especially after he executed his uncle, Kim Jong Nam went into hiding for some time. There are at least two unsuccessful attempts to kill him. For example, in 2011 in Macau they tried to shoot him, but his bodyguards saved his life.

And in October 2012, South Korean prosecutors announced that they had caught a North Korean spy who was supposed to set up a fatal car accident with Kim Jong Nam's car.

However, a number of media outlets report that in 2015, Kim Jong-un changed his anger to mercy and even called his older brother back to the country, offering him a position in North Korea. It was reported that he was supposed to work on resolving disputes with Japan, for which he even went to study at a Japanese school. This step was perceived by experts as an attempt by the dictator to keep the enemy at as close a distance as possible.

New information has appeared in the South Korean media about the death of the half-brother of the head of the DPRK. A squad of assassins could kill Kim Jong Nam because of his inheritance, reports the publication Dni.ru.

The South Korean edition of The Korea Times reports that Kim Jong Nam could have been killed because of his considerable inheritance: Kim Jong Il felt sorry for his eldest son, who grew up abroad. According to another version, he had access to the secret foreign currency accounts of his uncle Jang Song Thaek, who was executed in 2013.

Kim Jong-un, who came to power, demanded that his brother return to his homeland along with the money, and the refusal greatly angered him. Let us recall that the youngest son of Kim Jong Il became the new leader of North Korea, since the eldest lost the right to take the throne due to a conflict with his father.

Meanwhile, it turned out that a group of six killers killed Kim Jong Nam in just a few seconds. According to a preliminary version, he was surrounded at the check-in counter at Kuala Lumpur airport, The Times reports. One of the men blocked Kim Jong Nam's path, and a woman who was part of the assassination squad used a chokehold.

A woman thought to be one of the suspects in Kim Jong Nam’s murder leaves a Malaysian police station on Thurs (Photo by CCTV’s Deng Xuemei) pic.twitter.com/ZuoWUHa0DH

Apparently, she poisoned the brother of the North Korean leader with a fast-acting substance: the cameras recorded a glove on the attacker’s hand (it was no longer there in the next recording). According to one version, the poison was injected with a needle, The Guardian reports.

The results of the autopsy have not yet been disclosed. Law enforcement officials announced the emergence of new suspects. Earlier, Indonesian citizen Siti Aishan and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong were detained. The police are also questioning an acquaintance of one of them.

Let us recall that in 2012, Kim Jong Nam asked his brother for mercy. After the first assassination attempt, he sent Kim Jong-un a letter:

“I ask that the punishments for me and my family be cancelled. We can't hide. Our only chance to escape is to commit suicide ourselves.”

The family of Kim Jong Nam, the elder brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who was killed in Malaysia and is in Macau, has been taken under police protection. This was reported by The South China Morning Post, citing its own sources.

According to the publication, Kim Jong Nam's second wife, their 21-year-old son and daughter aged about 18 live in the former Portuguese enclave, which is now a special administrative region of China.

They fear for their safety and have been placed under guard following the mysterious death of Kim Jong Nam, who was allegedly poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport.

Macau Secretary (Minister) of Security Huang Shaojie did not disclose what measures were taken to protect Kim's immediate family. He only noted that the authorities are “closely monitoring developments around this case.”

As The South China Morning Post previously reported, Kim Jong Nam's son, 21-year-old Kim Han Sol, expressed serious concerns for his personal safety.

It is known about him that he was educated in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in France. His sister attended international schools in Macau.

According to the newspaper, Kim Jong Nam also has another son from his first wife - they live in Beijing.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder; unofficial data indicate that North Korean intelligence agents could have killed Kim Jong Nam. Meduza tells what is known about the suspects in the murder of Kim Jong-un's son [Kim Jong Il - note K.ru]- and why he could have been killed.

According to one of the versions discussed in the South Korean press, Kim Jong-un ordered his brother to return home and help the country with money, but he refused, which infuriated the DPRK leader. Kim Jong-un allegedly threatened to kill his brother. Seoul intelligence claims that attempts to organize an assassination attempt on Kim Jong Nam have not stopped for the past five years.

The Japanese agency Jiji Press writes about another version: supposedly Kim Jong-un feared that his brother could form a North Korean government in exile and lead it. Rumors that North Korean defectors were planning to form a government in exile had been circulating since October 2016, but Kim Jong Nam was not mentioned in these plans (even though he is known as an opponent of the Pyongyang regime).

Egor Gavrilov

A video of the assassination attempt on the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Nam has appeared on the Internet. [...]

The footage released shows how a woman in a white top approaches a man in light jeans and a jacket from behind. She holds his head for two seconds, lets go and quickly disappears into the crowd.

After this, Kim Jong Nam approached the security officers and showed them his face. He was taken to the first aid station. [...]

Why and by whom was the brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Nam killed?

Why was Kim Jong-un's brother killed, and what actions will follow after such a terrible event?
The killing of Kim Jong Nam was "stupid and reckless" in its decision and execution, and could have negative consequences for Pyongyang, political analysts say.

Political analysts explain the possible causes and consequences of this murder.

Is Kim Jong Nam a potential candidate for the “throne”?

Analysts say North Korea "is not, in fact, an absolute monarchy," but the country is ruled by one family, and anyone from that clan, no matter where they are located, is seen as a potential candidate for the "throne."

The contenders are Kim Jong-un's older siblings. In particular, before Tuesday, there were two such contenders for the position of leader of North Korea: Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Chol, about whom there is not much information today.

Chinese factor

According to the analyst, Kim Jong Nam never had a close relationship with his father, Kim Jong Il. Thus, in the early 2010s, he gave a series of interviews to Japanese journalists in which Kim Jong Nam clearly described his feelings for both his father and his country as “double and painful.” On the other hand, he avoided passing judgment on his brother Kim Jong Un, only noting that it would be good to carry out reforms in North Korea.
On the other hand, analysts recalled that Kim Jong Nam lived in China under the protection of the government of that country. According to the author of the article, many experts in North Korea believe that Beijing "had him in reserve" in case it one day had to overthrow the North Korean government and install older brother Kim Jong-un as the "true successor."
This explains a lot, including why the North Korean leader decided to kill Kim Jong Nam. According to the expert, there is another factor, possibly related to Kim Jong-un’s “personal hostility” towards his brother.

Negative consequences

However, analysts continue, the North Korean leader's decision to kill his brother appears to be "stupid and unwise." If Beijing decides to invade North Korea, the "presence or absence" of Kim Jong Nam will be the most important factor, as they may choose someone else to be the formal leader. On the other hand, experts warn of the following negative consequences for Pyongyang:

Firstly, the assassination of Kim Jong Nam may affect foreign investment by adding "The leader who killed his brother" to the existing reputation of the state, in which you cannot trust the country's image. A potential investor "will decide to invest in Zambia" rather than North Korea, and that "will be the right thing to do," analysts say.
Secondly, this event will increase the likelihood of an escalation of the crisis on the Korean Peninsula and a second Korean War. The author of the article recalls that US President Donald Trump warned of a “forceful” response to North Korea’s actions, and the situation is further complicated by the fact that it will be necessary to “negotiate with a fratricidal country.” If the United States, concerned about North Korea's nuclear program, attacks the country's major nuclear infrastructure, Pyongyang could respond with a massive bombing of Seoul, the expert says.
Third, the killing sends a message to the North Korean elite as they now understand that “no one is safe from the leader’s wrath,” analysts conclude.

How many will voluntarily give up the opportunity to live, bathe in wealth, not deny themselves anything, and literally decide the destinies of people?

Apparently, Kim Jong Nam is just such a representative of humanity who saw happiness not in power.

Feature of birth

Kim Jong Nam is the son of the DPRK leader, Kim Jong Il, who died in 2011. The boy was born in 1971 in the capital of his homeland, the city of Pyongyang.

The undivided ruler at that time was the founder of the DPRK, Kim Il Sung. Chen Il was only one of many contenders for the “throne” and actively fought for his father’s favor.

According to the principles of a totalitarian society, a wife for a holder of such a high status had to be chosen ideologically correctly; there could be no question of the young man’s own choice.

But you can’t tell your heart - Jong Il couldn’t live without his beloved Song Hye Rim. For his sake, she even left the family and soon gave birth to his son. The parents had to literally hide both their relationship and Jong Nam from his grandfather - his reaction could be unpredictable. In the worst case scenario, Chen Il would have been excluded from the succession race, which was unacceptable for such an ambitious person.

Growing up

Already as a baby, Chong Nam was almost kidnapped by his own aunt, Kim Kyung Hee. The ambitious woman actively wanted to take part in governing the country, and the young heir would be a very serious trump card in her desires. However, her insidious plan did not come true.

Nevertheless, Chen Il was still forced to hide his firstborn from his father. Chong Nam had little contact with his peers, lived locked up, and studied exclusively personally. But it is worth noting that Chen Il loved his son and spent most of his time with him.

According to rumors, Ir Sen knew about both his wife and the heir, and was not against them. But it is not possible to reliably assert that this was true.

Education abroad

At the end of the seventies, Kim Jong Nam left the DPRK for ten long years. During this time, he managed to live in the USSR and study in Switzerland. He learned several foreign languages ​​and saw firsthand the difference between life in his native North Korea and Europe.

Upon his return, Chong Nam clearly made it clear to his father that he was completely uninterested in running the state. He was seduced by art. The young man, in particular, was very drawn to directing. Chen Il was furious and almost sent his son to labor camps.

Party work

In 1994, Chen Il became the legitimate leader of the state. His son was given important positions and had access to unlimited funds.

But life in the DPRK did not appeal to Chong Nam, and his father knew about it. At the end of the last decade of the twentieth century, the son left the country and took up family business in Asian countries. In particular, his task was to conceal his father's illegal income.

No one would have thought that a regular at casinos and nightclubs was the heir to a dynasty. He was most often seen in Macau and Beijing.

Family

What kind of family connections did Kim Jong Nam have? The biography says that he was married and even had several children.

But what is much more interesting is not Jung Nam’s personal life, but the presence of brothers and sisters.

In 1979, the same year when the still promising heir to the throne went abroad, his father, Chen Il, was forced to fill the spiritual void.

The result of the affair with his new passion, Kon Yong-hee, was three children, the most famous of whom was the current ruler of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un.

Choosing an heir

At the beginning of the new century, only the lazy media did not touch upon the topic of the scandal that happened to Kim Jong Nam at the Tokyo airport. He was found at border control with a fake passport.

This incident allegedly became the final reason for his father's loss of trust in favor of his half-brother.

But if you delve a little deeper into this topic, then everything becomes far from so categorical.

Was Kim Jong Nam hungry for power? His photos clearly show that he wanted to look like an ordinary person, he enjoyed life and travel. Palace intrigues interested him little.

Both he and his half-brothers more than once crossed the borders of other states using fake passports with fictitious names. Both Kim Jong Nam and Kem Jong Un studied incognito in Switzerland.

Most likely, there were unspoken agreements between the leaders of the countries on non-disclosure of identity and admission using non-existent identity cards. Obviously, a certain interest was at the forefront, which made it possible to turn a blind eye to the peculiarities of the Kim family’s travels.

Why did the puncture happen in Tokyo? Perhaps Japan wanted to annoy the head of state, who had been under its protectorate for a long time. But most likely, this is just a planned game.

Mysterious death

Chen Il died in 2011 and was succeeded by

Kim Jong Nam returned safely to Macau, where he spent most of his time with his family. He was an inconspicuous man who occasionally gave interviews with mild criticism of his half-brother's power.

On February 13, 2017, the attention of all the world's media was focused on a very mysterious death at the airport in Malaysia.

The events developed as follows: two women threw a scarf with an unknown substance over the passenger’s face. Within fifteen minutes he died suddenly.

The Malaysian government has confirmed that this is Jong Il's first son.

After the murder, many questions remain: who was the customer, why this crime was committed, why in a public place and in such a strange way.

Main version: the leader of the DPRK took revenge on a relative who spoke unflatteringly about his rule, for which he sent a specially trained special forces detachment to carry out a special mission.

According to another theory, which has many fans, the murder was staged in order to hide Jong Nam's life from annoying journalists. In fact, Jung Nam radically changed his appearance and once again changed his passport to a new fictitious name.