27.10.2014 Views

North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center

North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center

North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

he appears to favor the younger son, Kim Jong Un. Despite their tender age, Kim Jong Il<br />

encourages them to learn more about the <strong>Korean</strong> People’s Army and develop personal<br />

friendships with the children of senior <strong>Korean</strong> generals. As a result, they are seen as the darlings<br />

of the KPA’s generals’ corps. Because of their quarter-Japanese roots and fascination with the<br />

Japanese culture and tastes inherited from their half-Japanese mother, they are seen as potential<br />

conduits for Japanese influence at the Kim’s court.<br />

Kim Jong Il’s sole official wife, the now-deceased Kim Yong Suk, born in 1947, failed to<br />

deliver any male heirs and gave birth to his only legitimate children recognized by Kim Il Sung –<br />

two daughters, including his beloved eldest daughter Kim Seol Song. She was born in 1974,<br />

educated inside <strong>North</strong> Korea, and knows very well traditional values and the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Korean</strong><br />

system. She is very sophisticated and can speak fluently several foreign languages, including<br />

Russian, English, French, and Spanish. Kim Jong Il asked her to work at the WPK Secretariat,<br />

Office 99. She follows him everywhere. She takes part in many of his meetings with foreigners<br />

as his personal assistant. Kim Jong Il is said to be very proud of her accomplishments. She seems<br />

to follow Russian developments with particular interest. The father and daughter are said to have<br />

a genuine psychological connection. Some observers wonder what role Kim Jong Il may have in<br />

mind for his daughter during the power transition period, speculating that in case of emergency,<br />

Kim Seol Song may become <strong>North</strong> Korea’s future powerful Queen Min (Minbi), serving as a<br />

regent to Kim Jong Il’s younger sons from Ko Young-Hui, should that become necessary one<br />

day. Kim Jong Il also was very close to Kim Yong Suk’s younger brother Kim Yong Sun, who<br />

became the WPK CC Secretary in charge of International Affairs, but was killed in a car accident<br />

on June 16, 2003.<br />

In addition, in the late 1960s, Kim Jong Il was rumored to have had a love affair with the<br />

current female President of Kim Hyong-jik University of Education, Hong Il-chon, who<br />

allegedly delivered a daughter named Kim Hye-kyong to him in 1968.<br />

Kim Jong Il’s children, legitimate and bastard, and their respective relatives compete for<br />

his attention, favors, benevolence, and a succession preference not only among themselves, but<br />

IV-16

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!