Kim Jong-un was finally able to kill his older brother and he had his agents resort to using poison needles again. Long time readers may remember that the Kim regime tried to kill ROK Drop favorite Park Sang-hak with a poison needle as well:
Kim Jong-nam
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half-brother has been killed in Malaysia, a government source said Tuesday.
Kim Jong-nam was assassinated on Monday in Malaysia, the source said without revealing details.
Cable TV broadcaster TV Chosun reported that Kim was killed at an airport in Malaysia after being attacked by two unidentified female agents with “poisoned needles.” The suspects fled the scene and Malaysian police suspected North Korea was behind the killing.
If confirmed, Kim’s case would mark the most high-profile death under the Kim Jong-un regime since the execution of Jang Song-thaek in December 2013, the once-powerful uncle of the current leader.
Kim Jong-nam is the eldest son of late former leader Kim Jong-il and is living in a foreign country without holding any official title. He was born from his father’s nonmarital relationship with Sung Hae-rim, a South Korean-born actress who died in Moscow. [Yonhap]
For those that don’t know it has long been believed that Kim Jong-nam was China’s preferred back up plan if the North Korean regime was to collapse. With Kim Jong-nam now dead the only Kim’s left to rule North Korea are Kim Jong-nam’s other brother Kim Jong-chul who is considered too lady like to rule the country and his sister Kim Yo-jong is female and thus not a threat either. Plus both of them are part of his close inner circle where he can closely watch them.
That left Kim Jong-nam as a possible threat for someone looking to replace Kim Jong-un with another Kim and he is now gone. The only other possible replacement to Kim Jong-un that is not under his control is Kim Jong-nam’s son, Kim Han-sol who has been living in Europe. I would imagine he is some deep hiding right now after seeing his father executed because he could be next.
Kim Jong Nam and his son Kim Han Sol aren’t the only possible successors. There’s another name, Kim Pyung Il who is the half brother of Kim Jong Il which makes him the uncle of Kim Jong Un. Kim Pyung Il quietly lives in the Czech Republic as a North Korean diplomat. In North Korea, Kim Pyung Il is more popular with the people who are disenchanted with Kim Jong Un’s iron fisted rule. As for Kim Jong Un’s brother, Kim Jung Chul who is an Eric Clapton fan (he visited Clapton’s concert in London last year), shows he has no interest in North Korean politics. So he’s not a threat. So the two people left possibly to kill are Kim Han Sol and Kim Pyung Il.
Kim Jong Nam and his son Kim Han Sol aren’t the only possible successors. There’s another name, Kim Pyung Il who is the half brother of Kim Jong Il which makes him the uncle of Kim Jong Un. Kim Pyung Il quietly lives in the Czech Republic as a North Korean diplomat. In North Korea, Kim Pyung Il is more popular with the people who are disenchanted with Kim Jong Un’s iron fisted rule. As for Kim Jong Un’s brother, Kim Jung Chul who is an Eric Clapton fan (he visited Clapton’s concert in London last year), shows he has no interest in North Korean politics. So he’s not a threat. So the two people left possibly to kill are Kim Han Sol and Kim Pyung Il.