How did Kim Jong Nam damage Kim Jong Un's family reputation?

Kim Jong Nam resembled his father in his hot temper, but he was a playboy, an alcoholic and a womanizer, so he could not become the heir to the late leader Kim Jong-iI. That position of power went to his younger brother Kim Jong Un.

» Photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's extended family

Kim Jong Nam and his father as a child.

Dr Leonid Petrov of the ANU Asia-Pacific College said that although Kim Jong Un's recently assassinated older brother Kim Jong Nam had not been interested in power for a long time, he was once considered the heir, so there may have been irreconcilable conflicts between the two brothers.

Kim Jong Nam was once considered the heir apparent in North Korea and was successively appointed to important political positions from 1998 to 2001, but lost the support of his father, leader Kim Jong-il, after he was arrested at Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan in 2001 for illegally using a Dominican Republic passport.

He felt increasingly distant from his father since he returned from studying in Switzerland and since the birth of his half-brothers. However, Kim Jong Nam appeared unperturbed by his replacement, and repeatedly stated that he did not want to succeed Kim Jong Il.

According to a book written by Japanese author Yoji Gomi, Kim Jong Nam explained: "Because I received a Western education, I enjoyed freedom from an early age, and I still love that feeling of freedom."

Kim Jong Nam was arrested at a Japanese airport in 2001.

Kim Jong Nam was born in Pyongyang, the product of an affair between the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and former actress Song Hye Rim, a South Korean-born actress. Kim Jong Nam is said to have many of his father's personality traits: hot-tempered, sensitive and fond of the arts, but one distinct difference is his love of partying, alcoholism and women.

In January 2001, Kim Jong Nam accompanied his father to Shanghai to discuss the information technology industry with Chinese government officials. During this time, he also headed a government committee responsible for developing the IT industry in North Korea.

In May 2001, Kim Jong Nam was arrested at Narita Airport, Japan with two women and a 4-year-old boy believed to be his son. He had forged a Dominican Republic passport under the alias Pang Xiong in an attempt to enter Japan and visit Disneyland in Tokyo.

After several days of detention at the airport, the Japanese government deported Kim Jong Nam to China. This scandal that shocked North Korea caused Kim Jong Il to lose face with his long-time ally Beijing, and fueled rumors that Kim Jong Nam had mental problems.

Kim Jong Nam used a fake passport under the name Pang Xiong.

Kim Jong Nam then lived in exile in the gambling hub of Macau with his family for many years, while his younger brother Kim Jong Un gradually replaced him in the North Korean leadership.

Dr. Petrov said that because he was a businessman in Southeast Asia, Kim Jong Nam's death could also have been caused by gangs in the region.

Another expert, Foster-Carter from Leeds University, also agreed that Kim Jong Nam may have been assassinated because of gambling debts.

According to Dan Viet