Kim Jong-Il's Eldest Son: New Regime Will Fail

What happens to sibling rivalries when one kid gets to be dictator of his own nation? The tell-all book comes out, that's what.

Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong-il's eldest son and the half-brother of Kim Jong-un, doesn't think his younger sibling will succeed at his new gig as the leader of North Korea, according to a book being published in Japan this week. The book is based on interviews and emails with the eldest son over the course of seven years, and is written by Japanese journalist Yoji Gomi.

Gomi told CNN that Kim Jong-nam is "not comfortable that his younger brother is succeeding the power of Kim Jong Il" and thinks that Kim Jong-un will "fail" because he "has a lack of experience, he's too young, and he didn't have enough time to be groomed."

The two half-siblings have never met each other. Kim Jong-nam officially lost his chance to succeed his father when he was caught sneaking into Japan for a trip to Disneyland. CNN describes him as an "overweight and careless playboy," but one who, from semiexile, has previously offered outspoken remarks on the situation in North Korea to journalists, the Guardian notes. 

One caution: As of now, it looks like Kim Jong-nam has not confirmed that he said any of the things Gomi says he did.