Posted on 08/28/2006 8:29:49 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
/begin my summary
Hwang Il-do
According to Sept. 1 issue of Shin-dong-a, S. Korean monthly news magazine, high-level N. Korean defectors and Fujimoto Kenji, one-time Japanese chef for Kim Jong-il, all agreed that the initial photo of Kim OK is wrong, which was identified by news agency Yonhap and later by S. Korean TV Network MBC from photos of N. Korean delegation to U.S. in 2000. They say that the woman in the photo is just a mere staff, not the fourth wife of Kim Jong-il and his long-time secretary. Here is the initial photo in question:
The above photo was taken in 2000, when N. Korean Vice Marshall Jo Myong-rok visited U.S. and met Bill Clinton.
The real Kim Ok as identified by N. Korean defectors and Fujimoto Kenji is the woman in the following picture:
It is from a photo album of Kim Jong-il published by N. Korea. In one of many photos inside the book, she was seen in the background. This photo was taken in 1988, even though the album was published in 1992. However, the difference of appearance is obvious even when you consider that two photos are taken twelve years apart.
Kim Ok was known as "Comrade Ok" in Pyongyang. Even before she is reported to be Kim's new wife, she was addressed as a senior even by high officials which reflected her clout in power circle.
The defectors say that she is not an administrative secretary, but in charge of various villas or guest houses Kim Jong-il uses. When Kim Jong-il goes out for an inspection tour, she went out as part of an advance team and check the place where he stays.
After graduating a college, she joined a elite music band as a pianist in 1985. The band frequently played in front of Kim Jong-il. With her social skills, she got the attention of Kim Jong-il, and eventually work as Kim Jong-il's personal staff in late 80's. However, it was not until mid-90's when she began to be called "Comrade Ok." Despite over 20 years' age difference, she and Kim Jong-il casually joked around, and sometimes threw tantrum at each other.
One major disagreement between N. Korean defectors and Fujimoto Kenji is whether Kim Ok has a child of Kim Jong-il. In his book, Fujimoto Kenji denies that Kim OK has such a child, because Ko Yong-hee, the deceased wife of Kim Jong-il, did not allow her to have Kim's child, fearing that it will trigger another conflict over succession. He said Kim Ok and Ko Yong-hee maintained a close relationship like sisters as a result, and Ko's children also liked Kim Ok. However, some N. Korean defectors claim that Kim Ok has Kim Jong-il's child born in early 90's.
According to them, it is not correct that Kim OK and Ko Yong-hee had a close relationship. Even though they may look friendly to each other on the surface, their relationship is in reality pretty bad. There was even a rumor that Ko's health deteriorated because of Kim Ok. Ko even went to , Kim Kyung-hee, the estranged sister of Kim Jong-il, and complained about her 'womanizing husband.'
Sensing the conflict between two of his women, Kim Jong-il arranged a trip to Macau villa by Kim Ok, where she can take shelter and stay until things cool down. There was a new report a few years ago that Kim Jong-il has a girlfriend named 'Chung Il-sun' and she sometimes turn up at Macau villa with her son named 'Kim Han-sol.' Chung Il-sun turned out to be the name a woman from N. Korean royal family frequently uses when she travel abroad.
If there is indeed another son of Kim Jong-il from Kim Ok, it puts a new twist on succession problem. Ko Yong-hee's influence was critical for her two sons, Jung-chol and Jung-un, to pull ahead of the eldest son Kim Jong-nam born from yet another woman, Sung Hye-rim. Now that Ko is dead and Kim Ok is assuming the role of N. Korea's first lady, we cannot rule out that Kim Ok's teenage son can become another serious contender.
/end my summary
Ping!
Can you have more than one wife in Korean culture?.........If so, WHY?...............
Obligatory graphic.
Technically, Ko Yong-hee, and Kim Ok are not legal wives. The only legal wife is Kim Young-sook, who was long forgotten. The two women are just living together with Kim Jong-il in a legal sense.
Has wife number 1 disappeared?............
Apparently, she is still alive. It is just that Kim Jong-il has not seen her for a long time.
Is chia head's mother still alive? If not, did she disappear?....
She died before Korean War.
It's a soap opera
Yes, it is. However, it could also determine the fate of a country. Four princes jockeying for power, while the country is literally under a siege.
I can see it now. Bumper stickers, straw hats, megaphones, posters, 30 second spot commercials on Radio Pyongyang, the whole nine yards.
I am sure Kim Ok will enjoy every minute of it.:)
Thanks for the ping.
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