Barrels of newspaper and magazine ink were dumped on it. Endless spools of TV tape were spent. And aptly so. The North Korea Six Party peace talks held last month in Beijing was a press frenzy to say the least, commanding the attention of top reporters from Asia, Europe and North America. The fact that NKDP has proven to the world their capability to build nuclear weapons of mass destruction has been a splinter in Sino-US diplomacy. Countries such as Japan and South Korea in particular are still reeling from the political and cultural aftershocks of North Korea's nuclear tests. After all, the Bush Administration ordered the invasion of Iraq because Saddam "had" weapons of mass destruction. Unlike Iraq where no wmds have been found to date, Pyongyang proved they have the goods and the bravado to blow them up. But for a moment there, just before the signing of arguably one of the most important disarmament deals of the decade, the focus of the media wasn't on the negotiations themselves. Their gaze was trained on what some call an outrage and others dub a fait-diver. They were all ogling Macau. Indeed, Kim Jong Nam, the first-born son of North Korea's "Dear Leader" and possible successor had been "hiding out" in Macau for the past three years. The "revelation" made it to the first page of some of the most influential newspapers in the region, such as Japan's Daily Yomiuri Shumbun – who broke the news – and our neighbouring Hong Kong based giant, the South China Morning Post. But it didn't stop there. The week long investigations soon turned into a media frenzy not seen in Macau since the days leading up to the Handover. Over a hundred reporters flocked to Macau to find out all they could about Kim Jong. (See article "Tracking Kim Jong Nam").

News or hype
What made Kim Jong Il son's hiding in Macau such a newsworthy story? Was it because the world knows so little about the only "royal family" in the history of Communism? Or was it simply because what little is known points to crimes against humanity? Was it that the possible heir to one of the most famished nations in the world feasts in one of Asia's culinary and entertainment capitals? Had Kim Jong Nam been in hiding and conducting business on behalf of his country, or was he in exile after falling out of grace with his father? Was his stay in Macau relevant to Banco Delta Asia? Will he succeed his father? Did the news of his hiding effect the Six-Party talks? Or was it just something else to report with little news leaking out from the tightly closed doors of the Six Party talks? Was it news or hype?

Wait for the book
While many reports where filed, printed or aired on TV stations around the world, very few answers to these questions where actually given. Also, the vast majority of sources cited in the media "requested that they not be mentioned by name". This is not atypical when the focus involves the barbed-wire ringed and gulag laden "Hermit Kingdom". And since the Six Party negotiations were led by the United States it's very plausible that much will remain unknown from the general public until the US Central Intelligence Agency declassifies information about the Six-Party talks held last month Beijing – in the next 20 to 50 years…. That, or we could wait for the release of an unauthorized biography from someone, like "the leader's" life long gardener. Think Mao's doctor.

Just the facts, Kim
What did the public know about the "Dear Leader's" eldest son before he took up residency in Macau? Chroniclers of the regime note that young Kim Jong Nam was showered with expensive toys as a child. In fact, he received gifts amounting to a million dollars annually on his birthday. He was later educated in Switzerland, where he majored in computer science and mastered several languages, from Chinese to English to Russian. After nailing down his scholastics, he later headed the DPRK's much feared domestic intelligence unit. He was nicknamed the "Little General". His highest official role came in the late 90's as the head of the Korea Computer Centre. Given his command of computers, he shined at this post. He upgraded the country's IT infrastructure, developed high-end security software and built up the DPRK's cyber warfare capabilities. He hence gave the totalitarian state a heavy high-tech hand. Using a fake passport, he traveled several times to Japan for unknown auspices, presumably for intelligence gathering and computer products. It's also likely he went to Japan to sate his penchant for pleasure. Did he have a hankering for Japanese pachinko and pornography? The jury is still out on that. Still, he confessed his desire for popular culture when he was he was arrested in May 2001 at the Narita Airport. He told Japanese authorities that he wanted to take his boy to Tokyo Disneyland. Japanese media went nuts. So, too, did his father, who, analysts say, "banished" him to Moscow for a year. He then, somehow, immersed himself in the local culture of Macau. No one said a word.

Theory craft
While some analysts argue that "lil' Kim" fell from grace a long time ago, others believe his "dear" dad is actually playing a few turns ahead; allowing the world to believe he has discredited his son and thus allowing him to roam free from the eye of the world and conduct dealings for the regime while incognito.
Did the Beijing Central Government know he was here? Did the United States? Both deny knowledge, but the public has grown accustomed to their frequent denials. A diplomatic source told Macau Business that both Beijing and D.C. were aware that Kim Jong Nam had been living in Macau. Another diplomatic source told Macau Business that US owned casinos will share any and all CCTV footage of Kim Jong Nam with US intelligence and justice agencies. Kim allegedly avoided US casinos, but that doesn't mean perimeter cameras didn't catch him. Or that he didn't go to them after partying in pubs and strip-clubs.

The heir
Why Macau? Why not Macau: the former Portuguese enclave has seen its fair share of grey dealings with the North Korea in the past; including kidnapping of Macau residents. And it has been widely reported that Pyongyang sent key operatives here. Few other places in the world could provide such an extensive range of "services" that the son of the "Dear Leader" has grown accustomed to. Among them include such small pleasures of life found in gastronomic delights, all night parties and Eastern European masseurs.
There's also the issue of public security. Macau has a high level of public security – meaning that an attempt on his life would be slim. In Europe, he survived an attempted assassination. In Macau, with fine clothes and dark glasses, he could blend in as a mainland high-roller. His alleged exile status notwithstanding, North Korea's Confucian culture puts him in a prime spot to be named the next leader of the country by his father. To some analysts, it's more than likely that history will repeat itself and for papa Kim to appoint to Kim junior to lead the country for yet another generation.

End Game
Kim Jong Nam Macau probably wanted to flee the SAR as soon as news reports caught him on film. Instead, he waited nearly two weeks and left on the opening day of the Grand Lisboa while the media worshipped Stanley Ho's latest casino creation.
He arrived in Beijing on the eve of the Six Party signing agreements. He was allegedly heading home to attend the national celebrations of his father's birthday. Analysts speculate that Kim Jong Il would use the occasion of his 65th birthday to anoint his son as successor. That didn't happen. Was that the original plan? Some analysts believe so. Other sources believe his return to Pyongyang was an order because of the Macau media flap.

Still falling
On one end of the speculative spectrum, news of Kim Jong Nam's hiding out in Macau was another step down for him. Some have derisively dubbed him "the bastard son of the 'Dear Leader'". Born out of wedlock, he's the son of well-known Korean actress Sun Hae-Rim. Experts also refer to a communiqu?? from Pyongyang where Kim's Jong Il wife was referred-to as a "respected mother". Analysts argue this was a sign that Jong Nam was be ing groomed to be the legitimate heir to the Hermit Kingdom's throne. Now, his youngest brother Kim Jong-woon, 20, seems to be preferred. The fact that Kim Jong Nam lacks a decent entourage of bodyguards in his travels is yet another sign of his fall from grace. The rationale is that whatever happens to him would not affect the regime. Also working against him is a South Korean Intelligence report that argues that the dynasty could very well end here with Kim Sr. A top ranking military officer may instead replace him.

Naughty by nature

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the US chief negotiator at the Six Party talks, referred to the deal struck in Beijing as a "good first step" towards the dismantling of Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal but the goal seems now further away.
Just days after the signing of the agreement where North Korea pledged to shut down its nuclear programme in exchange for one million tons of heavy fuel oil and other energy assistance, the country's state-run news agency reported that the deal was only for a "temporary" suspension of its nuclear activities. The statement also added that North Korea had no intentions of giving up their nukes.
Meanwhile, the US government is being asked to reevaluate the threat posed by the North Korean nuclear arsenal after a Washington think tank reported that Pyongyang has enough weapons grade plutonium to have made a dozen more nuclear warheads. The Institute for Science and International Security stated in its report last month that North Korea was not likely to commit to a disarmament agreement. Mounted on medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles, the weapons could reach southern Japan.
In a US official statement later released, Assistant Secretary Hill stated that rather than a comprehensive agreement, the Six Parties were able to commit to a 60-day deadline known as the Initial Action Agreement. Goals for the first 60 days include North Korea shutting down its Yongbyon reactor and allowing inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, who left the country in 2002, to return; North Korea must compile a list of its declared nuclear sites; Bilateral groups of the various parties will meet to begin discussions on a range of regional issues; and North Korea will receive its first shipment of 50,000 tons of fuel oil.
The Beijing requirement for North Korea to declare its nuclear activities could be a major challenge because, if the uranium enrichment program is not included, the deal could run aground, the U.S. official told Reuters.
If the Six Parties meet their agreements, "our plan is to then have a ministerial U.S. Secretary of State… [Condoleezza]Rice will go out to Beijing, and she will meet with her other five counterparts, including the North Korean minister for foreign affairs, and review the first 60 days", Hill said. The April meeting, if it takes place, will also address the next phase of the agreement.
The next phase of the agreement includes the five parties providing North Korea with another 950,000 tons of fuel oil in stages that will correspond to actions taken by North Korea. To receive the fuel aid, North Korea has agreed to provide a complete list of its nuclear programmes and to disable all existing nuclear reactors. The cost for the oil, valued at US$220 million, will be shared among the parties.
A Chosun Ilbo-Gallup poll reports that 77 percent of South Koreans predict North Korea will not keep its pledges. Only 15 percent said they trusted Pyongyang to hold up its end of the bargain.

by Luis Pereira