Grandson of North Korean Leader in Bosnia

Posted October 14th, 2011 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
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The teenage grandson of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is in Bosnia, where officials say he has enrolled in a private high school.

Officials at United World College in the southern Bosnian city of Mostar, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed 16-year-old Kim Han Sol arrived this week to take classes. They said he came to the school's Bosnian branch after he was refused a visa to attend a branch in Hong Kong.

Amateur video obtained by the Associated Press shows a student believed to be Kim Han Sol saying, “I'm very happy, I love Mostar.” He also says he likes the food and that “the people are very nice.”

United World College has 13 schools in different locations across the world. Spokeswoman Meri Musa told a news conference that all she could say is that Kim Han Sol is a North Korean citizen.

She also said the school selects students based on their “sense of idealism” and “sense that they can really change the world.”

Last week, the English-language South China Morning Post identified Kim Han Sol's father as Kim Jong-nam — the one-time heir-apparent to Kim Jong Il. The son is thought to have fallen out of favor with the North Korean leader about a decade ago.

The newspaper said Kim Jong-nam and his son have lived in Macau in recent years.