On September 10, 2023, North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un began his visit to Russia on a special train, which immediately became the focus of global attention.
Kim Jong-un, born in 1984, is known as the "world's strongest post-80s generation", and his status and ability can be seen.
In fact, the most likely successor should be Kim Jong-un's half-brother, Kim Jong-nam. After Kim Jong-nam fell out of favor, he wandered overseas for many years.
On February 13, 2017, Kim Jong-nam was assassinated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, causing an uproar.
Kim Jong's biological mother Sung Hui-rim is also ill-fated, dying in Moscow in 2002, and the tragic experience of their mother and son has added a touch of mystery to North Korea.
Cheng Huilin
The first lady died abroad
According to relevant information, Kim Jong-il, the second supreme leader of North Korea, had four marriages in his life, and several wives were beautiful as flowers, giving birth to a total of 3 sons and 5 daughters for him.
In 1966, 24-year-old Kim Jong-il married the martyr's orphan Hong Yi-hyeon, who was working in the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea at that time, and his eldest daughter, Kim Hye-kyung, was born in 1968. Sung Hye-rim is Kim Jong-il's second wife, and in May 1971, she gave birth to her eldest son, Kim Jong-nam.
Kim Jong-un and his brother Kim Jong-chul, and his sister Kim Yo-jong's biological mother is Kim Jong-il's third wife, Ko Young-hee. In Kim Jong-il's later years, technical secretary Kim Ok became his fourth wife.
It can be seen that the outside world's evaluation of Kim Jong-il's private life is not groundless.
Kim Jong Il
Cheng Huilin was born in 1935 in South Korea, where her parents worked as water producers and accumulated a rich family base.
During the Korean War, 16-year-old Sung Wai-rim followed her parents to settle in North Korea for her faith, and despite abandoning South Korean mansions and large amounts of land, her family still lived an upper-class life in North Korea.
Cheng Huilin was born beautiful, and as an adult, she reached a height of 1.61 meters, with facial features close to Western beauties, and her two dimples were very charming when she laughed, standing out among a group of ordinary Korean girls. She has received a good education since she was a child, and if she is placed now, she is definitely a popular figure in the circle of celebrities in Pyongyang City.
After graduating from the University Department of Art, Cheng Huilin became an actress and soon rose to prominence in the entertainment industry. With fame came a large number of suitors, and eventually Li Ping, the eldest son of the chairman of the Korean Writers Association, Lee Kye-young, won the heart of Sung Hye-rin. After Cheng Huilin got married, she did not give up her job, and the two did not have children.
Cheng Huilin et al
According to the recollection of Cheng Huilin's classmate and best friend, the famous dancer Kim Young-soon, one day in July 1969, Cheng Hui-lin suddenly came to Kim Young-soon's home and said to her: "I'm going to House No. 5!" ”
Jin Yingshun was stunned and asked, "What about Li Ping?" ”
As a member of high society, Kim Young-soon knows very well that "No. 5 House" is the name of the residence of North Korea's supreme leader, and Sung Hye-rim is going to remarry Kim Jong-il. "Once you enter the Houmen Gate is as deep as the sea", it seems that Cheng Huilin came to say a final goodbye to her this time.
What Kim Young-soon did not expect was that because she learned the secret, she was later held as a political prisoner at the Yeode Detention Center in North Hamgyong Province for nine years. It turned out that Sung Wai-lin and Kim Jong-il met on a group trip.
Kim Jong Il
Kim Jong-Japan is a fan of Cheng Huilin, and when he first saw the real person, he was shocked, not to mention that the two have a common topic of movies and photography.
Kim Jong-il ignored the fact that both of them are married, and he does not mind that Sung Hye-rim is more than 6 years older than him. He decisively pursued Cheng Huilin, and the two soon lived together.
In the context of that time, it was not difficult for Kim Jong-il to let the two dissolve their original marriage as soon as possible. But it is not easy to pass the threshold of his father, Kim Il Sung. After Kim Il Sung learned of the new trend of his son's marriage, he resolutely refused to accept Sung Hui-lin.
Cheng Huilin is not only older than Kim Jong-il, but also comes from a bourgeois family, with a complex background, improper roots, and not red seedlings. Due to Kim Il-sung's opposition, Kim Jong-il did not dare to disclose his relationship with Sung Hui-rin, so the relationship between the two has been in a state of inability to see the light, and the wedding can only be held in secret.
Kim Jong Il
On May 10, 1971, Cheng Huilin's sister Cheng Huilan had just finished breakfast when a black car with special license plates drove over. After getting out of the car, a young man introduced himself: "My name is Kim Jong-il, and I have already had a son with Sung Hui-lin, named Kim Jong-nam. ”
Cheng Huilan suddenly realized the relationship between her sister and the mysterious man in front of her. When Kim Jong-nam was 5 years old, Sung Huilan's husband died in a car accident, and under Kim Jong-il's arrangement, she moved into a mansion with her children to accompany her sister and take care of Kim Jong-nam.
Therefore, Cheng Huilan is the clearest about Cheng Huilin's life in the Jin family.
In 1996, when Cheng Huilan accompanied Kim Jong-il on vacation in Geneva, she took the opportunity to escape from the villa and flee to Europe, and many of Cheng's experiences were later disclosed by her.
Kim Jong-nam's family
After staying in Jin's house, Cheng Huilan found her sister's embarrassment, in order to avoid being discovered by outsiders, Cheng Huilin and her son rarely went out, it was necessary, but also frightened, hiding in Tibet.
Once, Kim Jong-nam went to the hospital when he was ill, and while waiting for an examination in the children's ward, Kim Jong-il's stepmother and others suddenly came to inspect the hospital, which frightened Sung Huilan's mother and jumped out of the window with Kim Jong-nam and hid in the trees outside until the people left.
Cheng Huilin is like a canary in a cage, she does not have much freedom, her daily schedule is reviewed and arranged by Kim Jong-il, and she cannot cross the thunder pool one step. Cheng Huilin, who was deeply hidden, did not get the happiness she wanted, but was depressed and lonely.
Moreover, she was always worried that Kim Jong-il would suddenly abandon her, and Sung Hye-rim did not dare to imagine how miserable her and her son's life would be without Kim Jong-il's favor, so she had to carefully watch Kim Jong-il's face every day. In the long run, Cheng Huilin suffered from depression under great mental pressure.
Kim Jong Il
Ms. Sung's concerns are not unfounded, and Kim Jong-il did have close relationships with other women during this period. It is well documented that he lived with Kim Young-sook and gave birth to two daughters, Kim Seol-sung and Kim Chun-song.
In October 1971, Kim Jong-il met Ko Young-hee, a dancer from the Mansudae Art Troupe, at a banquet hosted by his father, when Kim Jong-nam was less than half a year old.
Gao Yingji is 18 years younger than Cheng Huilin, her father is of Korean descent in Japan, and she was famous in the Japanese judo industry. Ko Ying-hee returned to North Korea with her father when she was 6 years old, and grew up to be popular in the show business. Compared with the elderly and decaying Cheng Huilin, Gao Yingji, who is young and beautiful, and unmarried, has obvious advantages.
On a snowy night in January 1973, Kim Jong-il officially proposed to Ko Young-hee. Although Ko Young-hee's background is not simple, and she is also from the literary and artistic world, Kim Il Sung is in favor of his son publicly marrying Ko Young-hee. In 1981, Ko Young-hee gave birth to her son Kim Jong-chul, and two years later, Kim Jong-un, and her position was very solid.
Gao Yingji
After Cheng Huilin gradually learned the news of Kim Jong-il's empathy outside, the depression and pain in her heart can be imagined. Cheng Huilin's mental disorder was close to collapse.
In order to avoid several women meeting and causing bad influence when the matter spread out, in 1996, Kim Jong-il arranged for Sung Huilin to go to Moscow for treatment and recuperation.
Cheng Huilin, who is over the age of Huajia, is far away from her family, where although the living conditions are very superior, her psychological sense of loss is even stronger. In Moscow, Cheng Huilin is most worried about her son Kim Jong-nam.
Around 2000, Cheng Huilin was diagnosed with breast cancer, but due to ineffective treatment, she died in Russia in 2002 at the age of 67. After Cheng Huilin died, she did not return to her hometown as she wished, but was buried in a cemetery on the outskirts of Moscow.
Kim Jong-nam
The wandering eldest son was brutally assassinated
Compared with his mother's snub, the eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, was in a much better position when he was a child. According to Cheng Huilan's recollection, after Kim Jong-nam's full moon, Kim Jong-il would come and hug him whenever he was free, and coax him to sleep at night.
In order not to make Kim Jong-nam feel too lonely and closed, after he understood things, Kim Jong-il asked Sung Hye-lan to take his son to live in several residences in turn to feel the new environment. Sometimes they are also arranged to go on vacation to their villas in Moscow and Geneva.
It is said that one day, Kim Jong-il took Kim Jong-nam Jr. to the office, pointed to his seat and said, "This is your seat in the future!" ”
Because Kim Il-sung did not allow Kim Jong-nam to disclose his identity in North Korea, Kim Jong-nam could not study in the country's public schools. At the age of 9, he was sent by his father to study in Switzerland, and when he was older, he went to Japan and Russia to study.
Kim Jong-nam
Kim Jong-nam later revealed in a conversation with a Japanese reporter: "When I went to Switzerland as a child, my father was extremely reluctant and shed tears when they parted. In the future, every birthday, my father would call international congratulations! From this point of view, Kim Jong-nam was still loved by his father in his early years.
In 1994, Kim Il Sung died, Kim Jong Il took over, and Kim Jong Nam could finally return to the day.
The following year, at just 24 years old, Kim Jong-nam was awarded the rank of general, responsible for the security of the country's overseas departments, and enjoyed the privilege of leaving the country at will. Since then, Kim Jong-nam has frequently visited Macao, Singapore and other places.
In 2001, Kim Jong-il brought Kim Jong-nam with him on his visit to China and asked him to discuss IT cooperation with the leaders of relevant Chinese departments in his capacity as chairman of the North Korean Computer Committee. At that time, rumors were circulating that "Kim Jong-nam would be the third generation successor of North Korea."
Kim Jong-nam
However, the facts are not as expected. Kim Jong-nam was lonely at a young age, and the only playmates around him were his aunt Cheng Huilan's children. After studying abroad, the teenager came into contact with Western ideas and lifestyles and began to advocate freedom. His behavior is somewhat indulgent, and he often gets drunk in high-end restaurants.
He also once angered Kim Jong-il by making a girlfriend without permission, and was cut off from economic resources and material supplies. In the end, under Sung Hye-lan's strong pleading, Kim Jong-il took back his life.
Although the young Kim Jong-nam is a little rebellious, he is remembered by his friends as a man of temperament worth befriending, and he also respects his father, and he is called by honorifics in front of him. He also reflects on his misconduct, believing that he is "influenced by capitalism and has failed his father's expectations."
Kim Jong-nam really lost his father's favor only after his complete liberation in 1995. With the increase and deepening of contacts with foreign countries, Kim Jong-nam's thinking has changed slightly, and he has even become dissatisfied and complained about some policies of the North Korean authorities.
Kim Jong-nam
Inevitably, these movements reached Kim Jong-il's ears, and Kim Jong-il became alert.
On May 1, 2001, Kim Jong-nam entered Japan as tourists with his son and two women and was found to have used a fake Dominican passport at Narita Airport.
Although Kim Jong-nam claimed that he just wanted to take his children to Disneyland, he was expelled by the Japanese police, which caused an uproar at the time.
Mr. Kim was so disappointed that his punishment of Mr. Kim was not known, but Kim Jong-nam has since apparently moved away from the center of power, spending most of his time abroad and becoming a regular at Macau casinos.
In December 2011, Kim Jong-il died of a cerebral thrombosis while visiting the local area. Before his death, he had already identified his third son, Kim Jong-un, as his successor, and the eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, did not appear in Kim Jong-il's funeral committee.
Kim Jong Il
After that, under the arrangement of his uncle Jang Song-taek, Kim Jong-nam settled in Malaysia and never returned to North Korea. In Malaysia, Kim Jong-nam has become very low-key, rarely appearing in public, and is almost semi-reclusive.
On February 13, 2017, Yonhap News Agency reported the "assassination of Kim Jong-nam" that broke the sky.
At 9 a.m. that day, a 46-year-old North Korean man with a passport name Kim Chul arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and was preparing to take a flight to Macau. Suddenly grabbed from behind by two unidentified women, an unknown liquid was splashed on her face. The man rushed to the airport staff for help and died on the way to Putrajaya hospital.
Malaysian police determined that the cause of death was facial and eye contact with VX nerve agent. And through DNA testing, it was determined that the true identity of the deceased was Kim Jong-nam. A week later, two suspects allegedly employees of North Korea's embassy in Malaysia and North Korean aviation had been captured.
Kim Jong-nam
However, the two denied the murder charges in court, arguing that they were simply deceived into participating in a reality TV show.
Although the court found the two female defendants, Sidy Aisha and Vietnamese Duan Thi Huong, the former released on the spot, and Duan Thi Heung was released from prison in 2019.
The United States, South Korea and other countries pointed the black finger behind the assassination of Kim Jong-un to Kim Jong-un, but it was firmly denied by the North Korean side, which almost caused a diplomatic storm, and the cause of Kim Jong-nam's death is still a mystery.
Kim jong un
Nai He was born in an imperial family
As important members of North Korea's highest family, Kim Jong-nam and his mother, Sung Hye-rin, both died in other places, which is incredible.
In fact, the fate of the two is so tragic, there are also traces to follow.
First of all, the relationship between Sung Hui-rim and Kim Jong-il has never been recognized by Kim Il Sung, and her status has always been unworthy and may be abandoned at any time.
According to Sung's recollection, at that time, Sung Hui-lin was worried that her father's status as a South Korean landowner might be liquidated as a class enemy, and her relationship with Kim Jong-il was not all because of love, but also to reduce the political pressure on the family.
Ko Ying-hee, on the other hand, has gained the approval of North Korea and the military. In 2003, the media began calling her "North Korea's great mother" and "Kim Jong-il's most loyal comrade-in-arms."
Kim Jong Il
This vastly different treatment not only foreshadowed Sung Hye-rim's eventual exile, but also meant that her son, Kim Jong-nam, could not compete with the more orthodox Kim Jong-un for the position of successor.
Second, Kim Jong-nam's own actions aroused Kim Jong-il's disgust. Mr. Kim behaves somewhat bohemianly, often wearing a beret and jeans in casual attire with a slovenly face. On the contrary, Kim Jong-un dresses very much like his father's.
Of course, these are not the most important, and the "fake passport incident" is only a fuse. The fundamental reason for Kim Jong-nam's fall from favor is still a problem with his thinking.
Years of experience abroad have given Kim Jong-nam a different view of the North Korean authorities. Kim Jong-nam greatly appreciates China's achievements in reform and opening up, and he believes that if North Korea wants to develop, it should learn from China.
Kim Jong-nam
Kim Jong-nam also resents "hereditary system" and favors a collective decision-making mechanism. In a conversation with a friend, he once said: "Not interested in the question of the successor! This view is shaking the foundation of the family, and it can be said that it is a big contrarian for the family. It is impossible for Kim Jong-il to rest assured that Kim Jong-nam, who has a "backbone", will succeed him.
However, after his younger brother Kim Jong-un came to power, Kim Jong-nam still accepted the reality, he just hoped that "his younger brother can make the people live a good life"!
With the liquidation of his close uncle Jang Song-taek, Kim Jong-nam seemed to sense the danger, and he almost "disappeared", but in the end he could not escape the fate of assassination.
The fate of Cheng Huilin's mother and son is full of pathos and ups and downs. In the face of absolute power, the so-called love and affection are just sacrifices. Their apparent glory may be the envy of the world, but who can understand their inner loneliness and fear?
At the moment before their death, I wonder if there will be a flash of remorse of "I was born in an imperial family"?
Resources
"Revealing the Secret of Kim Jong-nam's Young Study Abroad Time: Kim Jong-il Sheds Tears for Parting", China Economic Weekly, No. 7, 2017;
"Revealing: Kim Jong-il and His Four Wives", China Business Network, March 8, 2011;
Jiang Tian, "The real murderer behind Kim Jong-nam's murder is full of doubts", China Youth Online, February 28, 2017.