Weeks have passed and yet no family member has turned up to provide DNA samples to help verify the identity of the murdered “Kim Chol”, otherwise believed to be Kim Jong Nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s half brother.
While diplomatic tensions continue to soar between Malaysia and North Korea, a new video is quickly garnering attention on the interwebs.
The video, titled “KHS Video”, was released by one Cheollima Civil Defense YouTube channel and it features a young man who claims to be Kim Jong Nam’s eldest son, Kim Han Sol (김한솔).
There have been various rumours regarding Kim Han Sol’s arrival in Malaysia to identify his father’s body, but it was never confirmed. Although he was born in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, Kim Han Sol moved to Macau at a young age. However, his whereabouts is currently unknown.
In the video, Kim Han Sol can be heard saying, “My name is Kim Han Sol from North Korea, part of the Kim family. Here’s my passport (censored). My father has been killed a few days ago. I’m currently with my mother and my sister. We are very grateful to (censored).”
“We hope this gets better soon,” he adds.
A statement on Cheollima Civil Defense’s website confirmed that the group was protecting Kim Jong Nam’s family.
“Cheollima Civil Defense responded last month to an emergency request by survivors of the family of Kim Jong Nam for extraction and protection. The three family members were met quickly and relocated to safety. We have in the past addressed other urgent needs for protection. This will be the first and last statement on this particular matter, and the present whereabouts of this family will not be addressed,” the statement said.
The group also made it a point to note that they have had assistance from the governments of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the People’s Republic of China, the United States of America, and an unnamed 4th government.
Little is known about the Cheollima Civil Defense, but according to CNA, Do Hee Youn, an activist with the Citizens Coalition for Human Rights of Abductees and North Korean Refugees, has confirmed that the man in the video is indeed Kim Han Sol.
Meanwhile, 11 Malaysians in North Korea have been banned from leaving the republic “until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved.”
In a latest update by The Star Online, Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, counsellor at the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang, said that they’re in touch with Wisma Putra and with their families back home. “We have already contacted them individually and are updating them from time to time, so they know of our status here. Right now, there is nothing to be worried about,” he was quoted as saying.
Kim Jong Nam is believed to have died in Malaysia on 13th February 2017 after attackers approached him at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (klia) and rubbed his face with a highly toxic VX nerve agent.
Sources: Cheollima Civil Defense, CNA, SumishaCNA, Kim Han Sol Wiki, The Star Online / Featured image: YouTube screenshot.
