North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center
North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center
North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center
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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 />
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