Kim Jong Chul

Kim Jong Chul was born in 1981. He is the son of Kim Jong Il and companion Ko Yong Hui, who died in 2004. He was educated at the International School of Berne with younger brother Kim Jong Un. ==Heir apparent==

In February 2003, moves began to raise the profile of Kim Jong Chul. The Korean People's Army began a propaganda campaign using the slogan "The Respected Mother is the Most Faithful and Loyal Subject to the Dear Leader Comrade Supreme Commander". Since the "Respected Mother" was described as "[devoting] herself to the personal safety of the comrade supreme commander", and "[assisting] the comrade supreme commander nearest to his body", Western analysts assume that the "Respected Mother" was Ko Yong Hui, mother of Kim Jong Chul and Kim Jong Un. A similar campaign was launched in praise of Kim Jong Il's mother (Kim Jong Suk) during the later years of Kim Il Sung's life. On 1 June 2009, it was reported that Kim Jong Chul had been passed over as his younger brother, Kim Jong Un, was to succeed his father as the head of the Workers' Party of Korea and de facto head of state of North Korea. ==2011–present==

Kim Jong Chul was reportedly spotted in Singapore on 14 February 2011, where he was attending an Eric Clapton concert. In late 2011, his father died and his younger brother, Kim Jong Un, succeeded his father as the head of state. Kim Jong Chul was again apparently spotted attending two additional Clapton concerts on successive days at the Royal Albert Hall in London, in May 2015. According to Lee Yun-keol (as reported by Wen Wei Po), chairman of the North Korea Strategy Information Service Center, Kim Jong Chul personally led the arrest of his uncle Jang Song-thaek in 2013. Some analysts believe that this signalled an expanded role for Kim Jong Chul in the North Korean regime. Kim Jong Chul does not involve himself in politics, leading a quiet life in Pyongyang where he plays guitar in a band, according to Thae Yong-ho, North Korea's former deputy ambassador in London who defected to the South. == References ==