In 2007, Jong-chul was appointed deputy chief of a leadership division of the Workers' Party of Korea. However, on 15 January 2009, the South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported that Kim Jong-il appointed his youngest son, Jong-un, to be his successor, passing over Jong-nam and Jong-chul. These reports were supported in April 2009 when Kim Jong-un assumed a low-level position within the ruling Workers' Party since Kim Jong-il was groomed by his own father, Kim Il-sung, in a similar way before becoming North Korean leader in 1994.[2]
Kim Jong-chul was born in 1981. He is the son of Kim Jong-il and companion Ko Yong-hui, who died in 2004. He was educated at the International School of Berne with younger brother Kim Jong Un.[3] Until 2001, it was assumed that Kim Jong-il's eventual heir would be his eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, whose mother was Song Hye-rim. But in May 2001, Kim Jong-nam was arrested at Narita International Airport, Japan, travelling on a forged Dominican Republic passport.[4] He was held and then deported to the People's Republic of China. The incident caused Kim Jong-il to cancel a planned visit to China because of the embarrassment to both countries. As a result of this incident, Kim Jong-nam fell from favour, although Kim himself said his loss of favour had been due to advocating reform.
Heir apparent
In February 2003, moves began to raise the profile of Kim Jong-chul. The Korean People's Army began a propaganda campaign using the slogan "The Respected Mother is the Most Faithful and Loyal Subject to the Dear Leader Comrade Supreme Commander". Since the "Respected Mother" was described as "[devoting] herself to the personal safety of the comrade supreme commander", and "[assisting] the comrade supreme commander nearest to his body", Western analysts assume that the "Respected Mother" was Ko Yong-hui, mother of Kim Jong-chul and Kim Jong-un.[5] A similar campaign was launched in praise of Kim Jong-il's mother (Kim Jong-suk) during the later years of Kim Il-sung's life.[5] This suggested that Kim Jong-chul, despite his youth, had emerged with Army backing to be a serious contender to succeed his father.
However, Kenji Fujimoto, Kim Jong-il's personal sushi chef, wrote in his memoir, I Was Kim Jong-il's Cook, that Kim Jong-il thought Jong-chul was "no good because he is like a little girl". Fujimoto believed Kim Jong-il favoured his youngest son, Kim Jong-un.[6]
On 1 June 2009, it was reported that Kim Jong-chul had been passed over as his younger brother, Kim Jong-un, was to succeed his father as the head of the Workers' Party of Korea and de facto head of state of North Korea.[7]
2011–present
Kim Jong-chul was reportedly spotted in Singapore on 14 February 2011, where he was attending an Eric Clapton concert.[8] In late 2011, his father died and his younger brother, Kim Jong-un, succeeded his father as the head of state. He was again apparently spotted attending two additional Clapton concerts on successive days at the Royal Albert Hall in London, in May 2015.[9]
According to Lee Yun-keol (as reported by Wen Wei Po), chairman of the North Korea Strategy Information Service Center, Kim Jong-chul personally led the arrest of his uncle Jang Song-thaek.[10] Some analysts believe that this signals an expanded role for Kim Jong-chul in the North Korean regime.[11]
Kim Jong-chul does not involve himself in politics, leading a quiet life in Pyongyang where he plays guitar in a band, according to Thae Yong-ho, North Korea's former deputy ambassador in London who defected to the South.[12][13]
^To keep the tree of manageable size, it omits five out of the eight known children of Kim Il-sung. Other children not shown in the tree include: Kim Man-il, Kim Kyong-jin, Kim Yong-il, Kim Hyŏn-nam, and Kim Yŏng-il
^Korean names often have a variety of transliterations into English, which can be confusing. For example, "Kim Jong-chul" may also be written "Gim Jeong-cheol" or "Kim Jŏng-ch'ŏl" among many other variations. See Korean romanization for more information.
^Huss, Kan; Frost, Clay. "North Korea's First Family: Mapping the personal and political drama of the Kim clan". msnbc.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. (Confirms many, but not all, of the birth and death years. See individual articles for more references.)
^Yan, Holly (16 February 2017). "The world's most mysterious family tree: Kim Jong Un's secretive dynasty is full of drama, death". Design by Alberto Mier. CNN. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^Official North Korean biographies of Kim Jong-il list his birth year as 1942. The Korean calendar is based upon the Chinese zodiac which is believed to characterize one's personality. The year 1942 (Year of the Horse), in addition to being 30 years since Kim Il-Sung's birth may be viewed as a better year than others, thus creating a motive to lie about a birth year.
^Official North Korean biographies of Kim Jong-un list his birth year as 1982. The Korean calendar is based upon the Chinese zodiac which is believed to characterize one's personality. The year 1982 (Year of the Dog), in addition to being 70 years since Kim Il-Sung's birth, may be viewed as a better year than others, thus creating a motive to lie about a birth year.
^Birth year for Kim Ju-ae is not publicly known. She may have been born in either late 2012 or early 2013.
References
^. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Choe Sang-hun (28 April 2009). "Kim's Son Joins North Korean Defense Panel". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
^Fifield, Anna (12 June 2019). "Kim Jong Un's undercover adolescent years in Switzerland". POLITICO. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^"North Korea's secretive 'first family'". BBC. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
^ ab"Kim Jong Chol – Leadership Succession – Democratic People's Republic of Korea." Global Security. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
^"N Korea 'names Kim's successor'". BBC. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
^. Korea Times. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
^"Kim Jong-un's brother visits London to watch Eric Clapton". BBC News. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
^Want China News, "Kim Jong-un's brother led arrest of Jang Sung-taek: source" 14 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 12 December 2013.
^Zachary Keck and Ankit Panda, "North Korea Executes Leader's Uncle", The Diplomat, 13 December 2013.
^"North Korea's 'princess' now one of the secretive state's top policy makers". Reuters. 2017.
^Wonderful Tonight: Taking Kim Jong Un's brother to a Clapton concert
Further reading
Bradley Martin, Under The Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty, St. Martins (2004), hardcover, 868 pages, ISBN0-312-32221-6
Kenji Fujimoto. I Was Kim Jong Il's Cook.[ISBN missing]
jong, chul, south, korean, poet, poet, field, hockey, player, jung, chul, north, korean, athlete, jong, chol, athlete, this, korean, name, family, name, korean, 김정철, born, september, 1981, sometimes, spelled, jong, chol, former, north, korean, supreme, leader,. For the South Korean poet see Kim Jong chul poet For the field hockey player see Kim Jung chul For the North Korean athlete see Kim Jong chol athlete In this Korean name the family name is Kim Kim Jong chul Korean 김정철 born 25 September 1981 sometimes spelled Kim Jong Chol 1 is a son of former North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong il His younger brother is current Supreme Leader Kim Jong un His older half brother Kim Jong nam was assassinated in February 2017 Kim Jong chul김정철Born 1981 09 25 25 September 1981 age 41 Pyongyang North KoreaEducationKim Il sung UniversityPolitical partyWorkers Party of KoreaParent s Kim Jong il father Ko Yong hui mother RelativesKim familyKorean nameChosŏn gŭl김정철Hancha金正哲Revised RomanizationGim JeongcheolMcCune ReischauerKim Chŏngch ŏlIn 2007 Jong chul was appointed deputy chief of a leadership division of the Workers Party of Korea However on 15 January 2009 the South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported that Kim Jong il appointed his youngest son Jong un to be his successor passing over Jong nam and Jong chul These reports were supported in April 2009 when Kim Jong un assumed a low level position within the ruling Workers Party since Kim Jong il was groomed by his own father Kim Il sung in a similar way before becoming North Korean leader in 1994 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Heir apparent 3 2011 present 4 References 5 Further readingEarly life EditKim Jong chul was born in 1981 He is the son of Kim Jong il and companion Ko Yong hui who died in 2004 He was educated at the International School of Berne with younger brother Kim Jong Un 3 Until 2001 it was assumed that Kim Jong il s eventual heir would be his eldest son Kim Jong nam whose mother was Song Hye rim But in May 2001 Kim Jong nam was arrested at Narita International Airport Japan travelling on a forged Dominican Republic passport 4 He was held and then deported to the People s Republic of China The incident caused Kim Jong il to cancel a planned visit to China because of the embarrassment to both countries As a result of this incident Kim Jong nam fell from favour although Kim himself said his loss of favour had been due to advocating reform Heir apparent EditIn February 2003 moves began to raise the profile of Kim Jong chul The Korean People s Army began a propaganda campaign using the slogan The Respected Mother is the Most Faithful and Loyal Subject to the Dear Leader Comrade Supreme Commander Since the Respected Mother was described as devoting herself to the personal safety of the comrade supreme commander and assisting the comrade supreme commander nearest to his body Western analysts assume that the Respected Mother was Ko Yong hui mother of Kim Jong chul and Kim Jong un 5 A similar campaign was launched in praise of Kim Jong il s mother Kim Jong suk during the later years of Kim Il sung s life 5 This suggested that Kim Jong chul despite his youth had emerged with Army backing to be a serious contender to succeed his father However Kenji Fujimoto Kim Jong il s personal sushi chef wrote in his memoir I Was Kim Jong il s Cook that Kim Jong il thought Jong chul was no good because he is like a little girl Fujimoto believed Kim Jong il favoured his youngest son Kim Jong un 6 On 1 June 2009 it was reported that Kim Jong chul had been passed over as his younger brother Kim Jong un was to succeed his father as the head of the Workers Party of Korea and de facto head of state of North Korea 7 2011 present EditKim Jong chul was reportedly spotted in Singapore on 14 February 2011 where he was attending an Eric Clapton concert 8 In late 2011 his father died and his younger brother Kim Jong un succeeded his father as the head of state He was again apparently spotted attending two additional Clapton concerts on successive days at the Royal Albert Hall in London in May 2015 9 According to Lee Yun keol as reported by Wen Wei Po chairman of the North Korea Strategy Information Service Center Kim Jong chul personally led the arrest of his uncle Jang Song thaek 10 Some analysts believe that this signals an expanded role for Kim Jong chul in the North Korean regime 11 Kim Jong chul does not involve himself in politics leading a quiet life in Pyongyang where he plays guitar in a band according to Thae Yong ho North Korea s former deputy ambassador in London who defected to the South 12 13 vteSelect a family tree of North Korea s ruling Kim family b g d Kim Bo hyon1871 1955Kim Hyong jik1894 1926Kang Pan sok1892 1932Kim Jong suk1917 1949 Kim Il sung1912 1994Kim Song ae1924 2014Kim Yong ju1920 2021Kim Young sook1947 Song Hye rim1937 2002 Kim Jong il1941 e 2011Ko Yong hui1952 2004Kim Ok1964 Kim Kyong hui1946 Jang Song thaek1946 2013Kim Pyong il1954 Kim Sol song1974 Kim Jong nam1971 2017Kim Jong chul1981 Kim Jong un1983 z Ri Sol juc 1986 Kim Yo jong1987 Kim Han sol1995 Kim Ju aec 2012 h Notes To keep the tree of manageable size it omits five out of the eight known children of Kim Il sung Other children not shown in the tree include Kim Man il Kim Kyong jin Kim Yong il Kim Hyŏn nam and Kim Yŏng il Korean names often have a variety of transliterations into English which can be confusing For example Kim Jong chul may also be written Gim Jeong cheol or Kim Jŏng ch ŏl among many other variations See Korean romanization for more information Huss Kan Frost Clay North Korea s First Family Mapping the personal and political drama of the Kim clan msnbc com Retrieved 20 January 2013 Confirms many but not all of the birth and death years See individual articles for more references Yan Holly 16 February 2017 The world s most mysterious family tree Kim Jong Un s secretive dynasty is full of drama death Design by Alberto Mier CNN Retrieved 16 February 2017 Official North Korean biographies of Kim Jong il list his birth year as 1942 The Korean calendar is based upon the Chinese zodiac which is believed to characterize one s personality The year 1942 Year of the Horse in addition to being 30 years since Kim Il Sung s birth may be viewed as a better year than others thus creating a motive to lie about a birth year Official North Korean biographies of Kim Jong un list his birth year as 1982 The Korean calendar is based upon the Chinese zodiac which is believed to characterize one s personality The year 1982 Year of the Dog in addition to being 70 years since Kim Il Sung s birth may be viewed as a better year than others thus creating a motive to lie about a birth year Birth year for Kim Ju ae is not publicly known She may have been born in either late 2012 or early 2013 References Edit Archived copy Archived from the original on 15 October 2017 Retrieved 20 February 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Choe Sang hun 28 April 2009 Kim s Son Joins North Korean Defense Panel The New York Times Retrieved 27 April 2009 Fifield Anna 12 June 2019 Kim Jong Un s undercover adolescent years in Switzerland POLITICO Retrieved 9 November 2022 North Korea s secretive first family BBC 15 February 2007 Retrieved 29 March 2013 a b Kim Jong Chol Leadership Succession Democratic People s Republic of Korea Global Security Retrieved 20 January 2009 Kim Jong chul BBC 30 September 2010 N Korea names Kim s successor BBC 2 June 2009 Retrieved 2 June 2009 Kim Jong ils 2nd son sighted in Singapore Korea Times 15 February 2011 Archived from the original on 2 June 2016 Retrieved 30 April 2016 Kim Jong un s brother visits London to watch Eric Clapton BBC News 22 May 2015 Retrieved 30 April 2016 Want China News Kim Jong un s brother led arrest of Jang Sung taek source Archived 14 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine 12 December 2013 Zachary Keck and Ankit Panda North Korea Executes Leader s Uncle The Diplomat 13 December 2013 North Korea s princess now one of the secretive state s top policy makers Reuters 2017 Wonderful Tonight Taking Kim Jong Un s brother to a Clapton concertFurther reading EditBradley Martin Under The Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader North Korea and the Kim Dynasty St Martins 2004 hardcover 868 pages ISBN 0 312 32221 6 Kenji Fujimoto I Was Kim Jong Il s Cook ISBN missing Portals Biography North Korea Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kim Jong chul amp oldid 1124366495, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
