By Kim Young-jin
Kim Han-sol, the 16-year-old grandson of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il who is studying at an international school in Bosnia, feels burdened by his connection to the Stalinist regime.
“It’s guilt by association,” he said in an interview with U.S.-based Public Radio International that aired Wednesday. On the campus of United World College (UWC) where he recently began classes he said, “All I want to do is study and live my life.”
The remark was the latest glimpse offered into the secretive ruling family by the young Kim since images of him ― sporting a striking Westernized look ― emerged on his Facebook account earlier this month.
South Korean and other media have been converging on the school to catch a glimpse of the student, who is the son of Kim Jong-nam, the “Dear Leader’s” youngest son who has apparently fallen out of favor for leading a wayward life.
In the interview, he said he actually knew little about the Korean peninsula as he had not lived there since he was two. He is believed to have lived with his father in Macau before heading to Bosnia.
He downplayed the interest he piqued when he responded, in a poll on Facebook, that he preferred democracy over communism. Access to his account on the social networking site has been restricted.
“It was a silly poll. In communism and democracy, you have both good and bad,” he said.
Decked out in rimmed glasses, an earring and bleached hair, the uploaded photos of Kim provide a stunning contrast to images of massive military parades and impoverished masses typically associated with the North. His frank remarks raise eyebrows given the Kim regime's tightly-controlled message to the outside that regularly lambastes the United States and South Korea and is one of the worst repressors of speech in the world.
North Korea props up its regime by building a massive personality cult around the ruling family. But it has been plagued for decades by a broken economy, natural disasters and international isolation. The United Nations estimates that one-third of its population is in dire need of food aid.
In postings online, Kim has also expressed his wish to ease the hunger pangs of his countrymen. Analysts note however, that it is not the first time for a member of the Kim clam to tout positive reform, saying Han-sol’s grandfather, country founder Kim Il-sung, was once an idealistic freedom fighter.