Kim Jong-il's eldest son lives in Macau: Hong Kong paper

The eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, has been living with his family in Macau for the past three years, a Hong Kong-based newspaper reported Thursday.

The South China Morning Post quoted one diplomat as saying that Kim Jong-nam, 35, has been using the city as his base, putting Macau's government in a difficult position. He flew back into the city this week after one of many overseas trips, the paper reported.

Using an alias, he checked into a luxury hotel near a ferry terminal to spend time with foreign friends. Kim checked out of the hotel on Wednesday after Japanese media reported his whereabouts, according to the paper.

Kim has frequented Macau for about 10 years, and it's considered Kim's new home because he believes it is a more comfortable place to live than in China, the paper quoted one source as saying.

Kim Jong-il has three sons, including Jong-nam, from two women.

Analysts believe Jong-nam stands little chance of being named the successor as he embarrassed his country in 2001 while trying to sneak into Japan with a fake passport.

He was arrested on arrival at an airport in Japan in 2001 for using a forged Dominican passport. He reportedly told Japanese authorities that the purpose of his trip was to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

While the North Korean leader considers his second son, Jong-chol, not masculine enough to be the successor, his youngest son, Jong-un, 23, has won his father's heart the most with his cool-headed personality, according to analysts.

The issue of North Korea's next leader draws North Korea observers' attention due to the North Korean leader's age and constant rumors he is in poor health. Kim Jong-il himself was chosen as the official heir to his father, Kim Il-sung, at the age of 30 in 1974.

Jong-nam was born from his father's unofficial relationship with Sung Hae-rim, an actress who died in Moscow several years ago.

Jong-chol and Jong-un's mother is Ko Yong-hi, who died of heart failure in 2004.

The 63-year-old North Korean leader succeeded his late father and the North's founding leader Kim Il-sung, in 1994 when his father died of heart failure, marking the first hereditary succession of power in a communist country.

Hong Kong, Feb. 1 (Yonhap News)