Top Aide to Kim Jong Il Arrested in Macau
If true, this could be a tangible sign of sincere Chinese annoyance with its North Korean viceroy. Via Daily NK, then Yonhap:
SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) — A local Internet news site reported Saturday that a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was arrested in Macao earlier this month.
Citing Japanese diplomatic sources, DailyNK claimed Kang Sang-choon, a secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of staff to Kim, was detained in connection to circulation of forged U.S. dollars and money laundering.
DailyNK, which specializes in news related to the reclusive communist country, also said the arrest may have taken place on Jan. 11 and that South Korean and Japanese intelligence services are in the process of verifying the information.
Regarding the allegations, a source at the National Intelligence Service, South Korea’s spy agency, said it received information on the matter. The official, however, said the agency is not in a position to offer a confirmation at this time.
Experts here said Kang is not involved in his country’s policy-making process.
Daily NK has a group photo of Kang and Kim Jong Il, and more information:
Kang Sang Choon has served as the chief of North Korean officials in North Korea in 1991, and after his visit to Macao through China has been reported in 1995, has been known as the person who frequently visited Macao for Kim Jong Il’s cash flow.
Lee Han Young had testified, “There is a department in the Central Party that has only one task of buying presents of Kim Jong Il. The secretary of that department is Kang Sang Choon. Lee is the nephew of Kim Jong Il’s wife who defected to South Korea and made Kim Jong Il’s private life to the public by his book, “The Royal Family,” murdered in February, 1997.
Lee testified, “Under Secretary Kang, starting in Japan, visits Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, and Austria. He buys about one million dollars worth of things yearly.
Fujimoto Kenji, a Japanese and a former cook for Kim Jong Il and the writer of the book, “Kim Jong Il’s cook” introduced Kang Sang Choon as being “responsible for escorting in the secretary office.
The obvious disclaimers apply. Decide for yourself.