Jong-nam fell out of favour after fake passport episode

Better days: Jong-nam (right) with his father Jong-il during a family reunion in 1981. Below: Jong-nam being escorted by police at the Narita International Airport after being deported for having a false passport. — Reuters/AP

KUALA LUMPUR: He was a man born to a mistress of a dictator, and the family’s rising star who was earmarked to take over from his father as leader of reclusive North Korea.

However, a fallout with his father saw him being overlooked with his younger half-brother taking over. Then came life in exile as he secretly entered China and Japan.