Kim Han-Sol, grandson of the late North Korean leader, gives rare interview (VIDEO)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un salutes as he watches a military parade to mark 100 years since the birth of the country’s founder and his grandfather, Kim Il-Sung, in Pyongyang on April 15, 2012.
The teenage grandson of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has given a rare and candid television interview in which he describes his uncle, current leader Kim Jong-Un, as a “dictator” and says he never met his grandfather.
Kim Han-Sol, sporting two stud earrings in his left ear, black framed glasses and a trendy haircut, spoke to former United Nations Under-Secretary General Elisabeth Rehn at the school in Bosnia-Herzegovina where he studies, the Agence France-Presse reported.
The interview for Finnish television was posted on YouTube.
Speaking in flawless English, the 17-year-old told Rehn he had South Korean and American friends, and he hoped to go back to his homeland one day to improve the situation for North Koreans, many of whom have endured chronic food shortages for years.
"I have always dreamed one day I will go back and make things better – make it easier for all the people there,” Kim said.
“I also dream of reunification because it's really sad that I can't go to the other side (South Korea) and see my friends there."
More from GlobalPost: North Korea criticizes 'hostile' US, South Korea in UN speech
According to the Guardian, Kim is the child of Kim Jong-Il’s eldest son, Kim Jong-Nam, who made international headlines after he was caught trying to enter Japan using a fake passport in 2001.
Kim Jong-Nam was thought to be the favorite to inherit power of the isolated Stalinist state once his father died, but he was passed over for Kim Jong-Il’s youngest son, Kim Jong-Un.
The teenage Kim said he was born in Pyongyang and moved to Macau a few years later. He returned to North Korea every summer to see relatives, spending most of his time with his mother’s family, NBC reported.
"My mum always encouraged me to live the same lifestyle as an ordinary citizen so I could have a better understanding of the people,” Kim said.
His father, however, told him to "forget about your background and live your life.”
Kim currently attends the World College in Mostar and hopes one day, once he has finished his studies, to contribute to world peace, “especially back home.”