Kim Jong-nam

Oldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (1971-2017)

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Kim Jong-nam was the oldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, born in 1971 and died in 2017. His significance lies in the fact that as the eldest son, he was initially in line to lead North Korea before being passed over in favor of his younger half-brother Kim Jong-un.

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Kim Jong-nam (Korean: 김정남, Korean: [kim.dzɔŋ.nam]; 10 May 1971 – 13 February 2017) was the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. From roughly 1994 to 2001, he was considered the heir apparent to his father. He was thought to have fallen out of favor after embarrassing the regime in 2001 with a failed attempt to visit Tokyo Disneyland with a false passport, although Kim himself said his loss of favor had been due to advocating reform.

Kim Jong-nam was exiled from North Korea c. 2003, becoming an occasional critic of his family's regime. His younger paternal half-brother, Kim Jong Un, was named heir apparent in September 2010. On 13 February 2017, Kim Jong-nam was assassinated with the nerve agent VX in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, widely believed to have been perpetrated by North Korean agents, alongside previous failed assassination attempts.