The eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has told a Japanese newspaper that his father was originally against hereditary succession of power.
But Kim Jong-Nam says his father named his youngest son as the next leader to ensure national stability.
Hereditary succession did not happen even under Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong, he told the Tokyo Shimbun duing a 90-minute interview conducted earlier this month in southern China.
(Hereditary succession) does not fit socialism and my father was against it, he said in comments translated into Japanese.
I understand that it was done in order to stabilise the framework of the nation, he said.
Instability of North Korea will lead to instability of the surrounding region.
The ABC reports Jong-nam, 39, was thought to be the next in line for the leadership. But he fell out with his father after he was caught trying to get into Japan to visit Tokyo Disneyland 10 years ago.
Jong-nam now spends most of his time in Beijing and Macau. He says he has no interest in politics or succeeding to power in North Korea.
Jong-Un, who is believed to be 27, was made a four-star general in September and given senior posts in the ruling Workers Party.
Since then, he has been frequently listed or pictured accompanying his father.