Half-brotherly love: Why Kim Jong Un’s brother was murdered
Half-brotherly love
Why Kim Jong Un’s brother was murdered
from The Economist
Kim Jong Nam was attacked by two women assumed to be North Korean agents a Malaysian airport. He is said to have died on his way to hospital
Rumours suggest that Mr Kim was poisoned. Six people might have been involved in the attack
The 45-year-old Mr Kim had once been Kim Jong Il’s favourite son. Before each birthday, diplomats would be sent on a month-long present hunt
But it was Kim Jong Il’s third son, Kim Jong Un, who succeeded their father in 2011. Kim Jong Nam was not visible at his father’s funeral
Kim Jong Un has consolidated power by executing about 140 senior officials. As a political irrelevance, Mr Nam had seemed likely to survive
Some says Jong Nam had conspired against his brother with executed Jang Song Thaek whom Jong Nam had been close to in his school days
Jong Nam might be involved in financial dealings like money laundering through Macau’s casinos or simply irritate Jong Un by criticising him
Jong Nam was thought to be under the protection of China which had had good relations with Jang and would have seen Nam as useful leverage
North Korea allegedly had been trying to kill Jong Nam for some time. But there is no hint his murder is a sign of turmoil within the regime
