[N. Korea] Kim Jong Nam had $120,000 in cash on him at time of slaying

Asahi Shimbun ^ | June 12, 2017 | MASATOMO NORIKYO

[TigerLikesRooster]

Kim Jong Nam had $120,000 in cash on him at time of slaying

By MASATOMO NORIKYO/ Correspondent

June 12, 2017 at 15:25 JST

KUALA LUMPUR--The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had $120,000 (13 million yen) in cash in his possession when he was killed at Kuala Lumpur's international airport in February, triggering speculation the money was a payoff from a U.S. intelligence contact.

Malaysian investigative authorities also speculated that Kim Jong Nam's meetings with an American male believed to have links with a U.S. intelligence agency may have been behind North Korea's decision to silence him.

Malaysian officials said Kim apparently acquired the sum during his stay and was planning to leave the country without declaring it as they found no record of him making a large cash withdrawal from a bank in Malaysia.

During a check of Kim's belongings, police found four bundles of U.S. currency, mostly in mint condition, in a black bag. Each bundle contained 300 $100 dollar bills.

Malaysian officials said earlier that Kim, the eldest son of late leader Kim Jong Il, had met with the same U.S. contact on several occasions during previous visits.

Kim was killed in the main concourse of Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb. 13 by two women who smeared his face with poison.

He arrived in Malaysia on Feb. 6 and was at the airport Feb. 13 to board a flight to Macau, where he resided with his family in exile.

A number of North Korean men believed to be agents of Pyongyang were on the scene to make sure the hit went smoothly, according to Malaysian investigative authorities.

In Malaysia, as in many countries, arriving and departing passengers with large sums of cash in their possession are required to report the amount to customs officials.

As Kim traveled on a diplomatic passport, he was not obliged to follow normal customs or immigration procedures when entering or leaving the country.

According to law enforcement officials, Kim spent five days in the northern resort island of Langkawi during his eight-day stay.

On Feb. 9, Kim met for about two hours at a hotel with an American male who Malaysian authorities believe is closely associated with a U.S. intelligence agency.

Malaysian investigative officials said it was likely that Kim had passed on useful intelligence information to his U.S. contact.

"It may well have been in return for the information he provided," said a Malaysian official, referring to the cash found in Kim's possession.

[TigerLikesRooster]

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[2ndDivisionVet]

The North Koreans are famous for counterfeiting.

[Pontiac]

As Kim traveled on a diplomatic passport

From what country?

I can’t imagine it was North Korea since they had been trying to get him back in country for some time so they could kill him quietly.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Walking around money.

[gaijin]

Very interesting post, thanks..!

[LucyT]

KUALA LUMPUR--The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had $120,000 (13 million yen) in cash in his possession when he was killed at Kuala Lumpur's international airport in February, triggering speculation the money was ..."

Check out article.

Thanks, TLR.

[buffaloguy]

Governments founded on tyranny are very leaky. I’ll bet there are many more with US contacts.

[TigerLikesRooster]

There was probably a plan to set up a defacto government in exile made up of high ranking defectors with Kim Jong-nam as its head. Had it worked out, it would have been a big political blow to Kim Jong-un.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Nam had a “YEN” for money, didn’t he? But as they say in North Korea, “You can’t take it with you, and if you try, we will kill you”.

Just to set the record straight.

[rdl6989]

This is a very interesting development.

[AdmSmith]

There was probably a plan to set up a defacto government in exile made up of high ranking defectors with Kim Jong-nam as its head.

Not unlikely, but who was Nam working with in this project?

Nam was more close to the Chinese than to any Western country, so China was most likely as well keeping an eye on Nam. So the question is why was Nam killed now?

[AdmSmith]

NK propaganda: https://www.nknews.org/2017/06/n-korean-video-details-alleged-kim-jong-un-assassination-attempt/

[TigerLikesRooster]

why was Nam killed now?

Kim leaning toward the West may not have gone down well with Chinese. If this news article is to be believed, he was meeting a 'mysterious' American. There was also a report that a N. Korean exile tried to contact him. Another report said that Kim Jong-un sent a messenger to Kim Jong-nam, asking him to return to Pyongyang, which he balked. So for Kim Jong-un, this would not look good.

I have a little suspicion that Thae Yong-ho may have been working behind the scene to push the project. The exile mentioned above is the head of exile group operating out of UK, the one-time playground of Thae. Thae had been unusually active and made many high-profile public appearances including international media. Exiles usually lay low for a while right after their defection. He was not. I thought that he was onto something.

[TigerLikesRooster]

I see that hacks at NKnews are trying hard to be reputable.:-)

[TigerLikesRooster]

They erected a pay wall. Hope subscribers would get their money's worth.

[AdmSmith]

Thae had been unusually active.

Yes, and using the old CI handbook he might still be working for the Norks, you never know. http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/mike-pompeo-north-korea-defector/2017/05/19/id/791131/ and as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jesus_Angleton would say: "Everyone is a suspect. Everyone."

[Kickass Conservative]

>>>Walking around money<<<

Walking Dead money...