Kim Jong Il`s eldest son talks about NK`s power succession

Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, said his reclusive father did not want a hereditary power succession but decided to transfer power to his youngest son Jong Un to stabilize the communist regime.

In an exclusive interview with the Japanese daily Tokyo Shimbun conducted in a southern Chinese city in the middle of this month, Kim Jong Nam also said he wants Kim Jong Un to be a respected leader,

The interview carried in the daily Friday was on the third-generation hereditary power transfer, the heir apparent Jong Un, and North Korea’s nuclear ambition.

In the 90-minute interview at a hotel coffee shop, Kim Jong Nam said on the hereditary power transfer, "Even former Chinese leader Mao Zedong didn’t pass on power to his descendants," adding, “It isn’t in line with socialism and my father opposed it.”

He defended the handover of power to his brother, however, saying, “I understand that (the hereditary power succession) is to stabilize our regime and system. Instability in North Korea will lead to instability in neighboring countries.”

In an interview with TV Asahi in October last year, Kim Jong Nam caused a stir by saying, “Personally, I opposed the third-generation power succession (but) I believe reasonable internal factors were behind the decision.”

On if China approved of the succession, he said, “China supported rather than approved of the power transfer plan North Korea chose.”

"I convey my opinions to my father from time to time,” he said, adding, “I have good relationships with my aunt Kim Kyong Hui and her husband Chang Sung Taek.”

Kim Jong Nam also denied rumors of his youngest brother’s supporters attempting to assassinate him and his flight from the Stalinist country, saying, “They`re groundless rumors. I’ve never felt in danger.”

On the heir apparent, Kim Jong Nam said, “I want him to be a leader respected by the people,” adding, “I hope he`ll preserve my father’s achievements and make the people better off. I also hope he`ll adjust inter-Korean relations to prevent the recurrence of a tragedy like that of Yeonpyeong Island.”

“I sincerely wish he do so. I don’t intend to challenge or criticize my brother."

On the North`s nuclear program, Kim said, “North Korea’s national power is nuclear weapons. As long as confrontation with the U.S. continues, renouncement of nuclear weapons is unlikely.”

On the shelling of Yeonpyeong, he blamed the North Korean military by saying, “There are people who justify the possession of nuclear weapons and military-first politics by stressing the image of a war zone.”

Turning to the suffering of the North Korean people, Kim Jong Nam said, “My heart breaks when I hear of how they lead their lives,” adding, “I hope they`ll live more affluently through economic recovery.”

“The currency reform was a failure,” Kim said, adding, “My country cannot be an economic power if it does as it has done. What North Korea wants the most is the normalization of relations with the U.S. and peace on the Korean Peninsula. After achieving this, the country will make full-fledged efforts to rebuild the economy.”

On his alleged luxurious life in Beijing and Macau and comments carried by Japanese media from time to time, experts say this is Kim’s survival strategy to avoid assassination attempts by those loyal to Kim Jong Un by drawing people’s attention; his desire to make his presence felt in preparation for a contingency in North Korea; and his effort to make money in the event financial support from his father is cut off.

jkmas@donga.com