Saturday, November 18, 2017

The tragedy of Kim Jong Nam: a Hamlet story


After reading an article in the latest issue of GQ, covering the horrific death of Kim Jong Il’s eldest son: Kim Jong Nam, I was able to draw parallels between Hamlet and the drama within the tyrannical Kim Jong lineage.  Two women, who used a lethal dose of the nerve agent VX as their weapon, murdered Kim Jong Nam. Kim Jong Nam was Kim Jong Il’s eldest son. Nam was entitled to the throne, but after his father married another woman who gave birth to two other boys (include Kim Jong Un), his claim to power disappeared. Il had always suspected that Nam was not meant to fulfill the role as tyrant, he beloved that Nam lacked the instincts required to be in that kind of power. Nam, at a very young age, was sent to a “posh” private school” in Geneva. After graduating and returning to North Korea, he was appointed as a top general in the North Korean army. Realizing he was not meant for the role, Nam left the job and was exiled from his home country. Nam then went on to live a lavish lifestyle, jumping from country to country and using the fortune from his family to fund his lavish adventures. Once Un came into power, Nam was cut off from the family’s fortune and series of attacks were launched direct towards Nam. This is where the story takes a Hamlet like plot. Nam, Hamlet, in this case, has been excommunicated from his home country by his own blood: Kim Jong Un (who would be Claudius). Un orders for Nam to be killed, similar to Claudius sending hamlet to be assassinated, however, the story differentiated because Un’s assignation was successful.

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