Seoul: The eldest son of North Korea`s
reclusive leader denied rumours that he intends to seek refuge
in Europe because his life was threatened in a fierce power
struggle, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday.
The son, Kim Jong Nam, dismissed the reports as
groundless and said his father was in good health, the
mass-circulation JoongAng Ilbo reported.
The paper said it tracked down the son at a hotel in
the southern Chinese territory of Macau, where he answered a
few questions while waiting for an elevator.
Dressed in jeans and blue suede loafers, the paunchy Jong
Nam reportedly said, "I have no plans on moving to Europe. Why
would I?"
He added, "I could go there for a vacation, but I think
you have only heard rumors."
Jong Nam, 39, is one of three known sons of 68-year-old
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. He had long been the
favourite to succeed his father but reportedly fell out of
favour because of his wayward lifestyle.
In 2001, he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake
Dominican passport to visit Tokyo`s Disney resort.
South Korean intelligence analysts now believe the father
is to name his youngest son, Jong Un, as his successor.
Unconfirmed media reports have said Jong Un has purged his
older brother`s supporters in North Korea and plotted to
assassinate him.
PTI
