Kim Pyong-il

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This is a Korean name; the family name is Kim.
Kim Pyong-il
Chosŏn'gŭl 김평일
Hancha 金平一
McCune-Reischauer Kim P'yŏngil
Revised Romanization Gim Pyeong-il

Kim Pyong-il (born 10 August 1954) is the half-brother of the current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, and the son of former leader Kim Il-sung.[1] He was born to Kim Il-sung and Kim Song-ae, Kim Il-sung's former secretary. Kim had one younger brother, Yong-il (who died in 2000), and one younger half-sister, Kyung-hee (who would go on to marry senior official Chang Sung-taek).[2] He was named after another son with the same name, who was born in Vyatskoye in 1944; that son, also known as Shura Kim, allegedly drowned in Pyongyang in 1947.[3] He graduated from Kim Il-sung University with a major in economics, and later attended the Kim Il-sung National War College, following which he was appointed a battallion commander.[1]

In 1979, Kim began a series of diplomatic postings to several countries in Europe so that he could not influence politics in his home country. His first overseas assignment was in Yugoslavia.[1] He was promoted to the position of ambassador to Hungary in 1988, but was transferred to Bulgaria in response to Hungary's opening of diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1989. This was followed by a posting in Finland.[4][5] In 1998, after North Korea closed its embassy in Finland to save money and prevent defections, he was posted to Poland. His ambassadorship was initially suggested to be in limbo, as nine months after his posting, he had yet to formally present his credentials to the Polish president.[6] However, he remained as ambassador in Poland, and his children Kim Eun-song and Kim In-kang went on to attend university there.[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Kim, Song-A. "Photos of Kim Jong Il’s Brother, Kim Pyong Il and Recent Visits", Daily NK, 2007-05-09. Retrieved on 2007-10-25. 
  2. ^ "Photos Surface of Kim Jong-il's Relatives in Europe", The Chosun Ilbo, 2007-05-10. Retrieved on 2007-10-26. 
  3. ^ Lintner, Bertil. "North Korea: Myth Making Dynastic Lies And Secrets", Far Eastern Economic Review, 2003-07-10. Retrieved on 2007-10-25. 
  4. ^ Sano, Yoel. "Happy Birthday, Dear Leader - who's next in line?", Asia Times, 2004-02-14. Retrieved on 2007-10-25. 
  5. ^ Sterngold, James. "Evolution in Europe; Stunned North Korea Warns Soviets on Meeting With Seoul Leader", The New York Times, 1990-06-02. Retrieved on 2007-10-22. 
  6. ^ "Kim Jon Il's (sic) half brother's ambassadorship in limbo", Kyōdō News, 1998-10-19. Retrieved on 2007-10-25. 

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Kim Pyong-il
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kim Pyeong-il, 김평일, 金平一
SHORT DESCRIPTION North Korean diplomat
DATE OF BIRTH 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Pyongyang, North Korea
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH