Kim Jong Un’s nephew boycotts S. Korean reporters

Wearing white T-shirt, short pants, and dandy golden frame glasses, Kim Han Sol, the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s grandson, looked like just an ordinary student studying overseas, when this reporter met him at the Le Havre Campus of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (IEP de Paris, or Sciences Po) in northeastern France on Tuesday night.

The son of Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of Kim Jong Il and a nephew of incumbent North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Han Sol is living at a dormitory about 100 meters from the school. The dormitory room equipped with a small kitchen and restroom measures 20 sq. meters. The post box in first floor lobby has a name plate “Kim Han Sol” on it, which suggests that he does not necessarily want to hide his identity or feel afraid of revealing it to outsiders.

The Le Havre Campus, which resumes class in September, looked busy, as more than 200 students from 32 countries worldwide scrambled to sign up for courses and apply for dormitory residency. Kim reportedly arrived in France about a week ago, and is living in the campus, moving back and forth to and from the school and dorm to attend student orientation.

After leaving the school to “have dinner” after class Tuesday afternoon, Kim encountered several South Korean correspondents waiting for him when returning to the dorm with schoolmates after 11 p.m.

Kim seemed to be embarrassed when his identity as “Kim Jong Il’s grandson” was revealed through French media, and as reporters came to see him to the dorm until late at night. A flurry of questions were asked to Kim, including “Why did you choose to study in France?” and “What would you like to study?” Despite questions from South Korean reporters, Kim replied, “No,” and remained tight-lipped. There was no North Korean bodyguard for Kim. But a foreign student, sophomore who identified himself as chief of the students’ council, blocked reporters from approaching him.

“Kim Han Sol is a sociable student who is very friendly and get along well with friends,” said Clare, who will study the same major with him. “We were not aware it until reporters rushed to here. Therefore, all the students were surprised to find he is a grandson of Kim Jong Il from North Korea.”