Kim Jong Il's eldest son gives own frank account of North Korean leader in upcoming book

Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of Kim Jong Il, has given his own frank account of late North Korean leader in his upcoming book, including his reluctance to let any of his sons take power, it has emerged.

The book by Yoji Gomi, a senior staff writer for the Tokyo Shimbun daily, is based on his extensive interviews with Kim Jong Nam and email exchanges between them, an editor at publisher Bungei Shunju Co. said.

According to The Japan Times, in an email in January after Kim Jong Il's funeral, Kim Jong Nam voiced his opposition to the hereditary succession system that led to his younger brother, Kim Jong Un, being appointed North Korea's new leader.

According to Gomi, Kim Jong Nam also said that the existing power group would continue to hold the reins of power and plans to use the new, young leader as a symbol of North Korea.

Kim Jong Nam also said Kim Jong Il had remarked he wouldn't let any of his sons take power.

According to the report, Gomi met Kim Jong Nam at a meeting at Beijing Capital International Airport in 2004.

Gomi interviewed him in Macao and Beijing last year for around seven hours.

Kim Jong Nam recently asked Gomi to delay the book's publication, fearing it would displease Pyongyang, the Bungei Shunju editor said.

But the publishing firm decided to release it anyway because it is "meaningful to deliver Kim Jong Nam's real voice at a time when North Korea is drawing global attention,"the paper quoted the editor, as saying.