Comments on: Kim Jong-nam Back in Pyongyang

By: Kim Jong-il Reported to Have Had A Stroke, If True What Is Next for North Korea?

Kim Jong-il Reported to Have Had A Stroke, If True What Is Next for North Korea? — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:35:47 +0000

[...] 37 year old Kim Jong-nam was recalled back to Pyongyang from Macau last year to undertake an important government position which only further fueled [...]

By: Kim Jong-il: Growing senile? « AMPONTAN

Kim Jong-il: Growing senile? « AMPONTAN — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:11:47 +0000

[...] http://rokdrop.com/2007/08/28/kim-jong-nam-back-in-pyongyang/ [...]

By: Richardson

Richardson — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:18:46 +0000

You win, Gunther

By: Gunther

Gunther — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:42:36 +0000

Yeah you are right, Richardson, I should qualify my statements. In any case, going far, far out on a limb with Kim Jong Nam was never going to be a good idea, given his weight…

By: Kim Jong-Nam to succeed Kim Jong-Il? | korean unification studies

Kim Jong-Nam to succeed Kim Jong-Il? | korean unification studies — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:12:44 +0000

[...] [Update] More discussion over at ROKDrop… [...]

By: CPT KIM

CPT KIM — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:52:12 +0000

In my last comment, instead of Step brothers, they are actually Half brothers. My mistake.

By: CPT KIM

CPT KIM — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:50:44 +0000

Through out Chosun Dynasty history, there was problem with weak Heir-to-the-throne who lost his mother. The new step mom will gain more power and will try to guarantee the throne will go to her son than the original heir-to-the-throne. Sometime in history, the new queen (step mom) will try to get rid of the heir by killing or exiled him for life by creating her own power base with other powerful people in government like chief Eunuchs, Army Generals, Palace Guard commander and even try to convince the king.

Once the Heir found out that his life is in danger, then he will make an escuse and run away to China to create an ally from the powerful Chinese Dynasty government. Several years after the step mom’s death, and the coast is clear that he will be safe in the kingdom, then he comes back to the palace to re-claim his position. The heir will also try to purge the step brothers and all step mom’s “ally” in the process to gain his power back which he lost.

It is time for heads to roll!!!!

By: The Florida Masochist » Blog Archive » The return of the prodigal son

The Florida Masochist » Blog Archive » The return of the prodigal son — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:39:22 +0000

[...] the writer of the above Chosunilbo article trying to be punny. GI at ROK Drop notes that Jong-nam is now the fattest man in North Korea(surpassing his [...]

By: The Florida Masochist

The Florida Masochist — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:54:08 +0000

The return of the prodigal son…

Kim Jong-iL’s son Jong-nam has returned to Pyongyang. Is there enough room for two fat men in the ROK?…

By: Richardson

Richardson — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:53:23 +0000

While I agree that the signs indicate that Kim Jong-nam is indeed being reevaluated for a future leadership role, there is not enough evidence to make a definite conclusion. It should also be noted that such decisions are notoriously reversible in North Korea, often with unpleasant outcomes for those involved.

Reports indicating the Disneyland fiasco caused his following loss of status may be true or not, but there was in fact a loss in status in the early 2000s not long after that event. The death of his mother, Sung Hye-rim, in 2002 and the loss of her influence on Kim Jong-il is also an important factor, among others.

and trust me, we’ll see him assume the leadership soon enough…

Unless you have human or signals intelligence to back that up, and some way of knowing such a decision won’t be reversed, you’re going far, far out on a limb with that assertion. Better to make qualified statements (“likely,” “probably,” etc.), since those are much more accurate in this case.