A number of interpretations have been voiced concerning Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of Kim Jong-un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, who was killed in Malaysia on February 13.

Experts suggested complex secret conflicts inside the North's Kim Jong-un regime unlike what appears to the outside to be stable control over the nation. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) dismissed the latest incident as the result of a "standing order" from Kim Jong-un.

⊆ Why Now?
Kim Jong-nam was killed the day after North Korea fired its new medium-range ballistic missile. It was also three days before what would have been the 75th birthday of his father, Kim Jong-il, chairman of the National Defense Commission. However, the intelligence service determined that the date had no particular meaning.

According to the NIS, the murder of Kim Jong-nam was a standing order―an order that remains valid and must be carried out until it is withdrawn―that Kim Jong-un gave as soon as he took office. This means, Kim Jong-un had already decided to get rid of Kim Jong-nam, despite that Jong-nam had been pushed aside in the battle for power.

NIS Director Lee Byung-ho appeared at a meeting of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee on February 15 and said, "It appears that the North's intelligence authorities including the Reconnaissance Bureau carried out the assassination after long efforts. The time of the assassination does not have any significant meaning."

He also said, "There was another (assassination) attempt in (early) 2012." That year in April, Kim Jong-nam sent a letter to Kim Jong-un titled, "Request for Leniency to Withdraw Orders for Punishment" and wrote, "I ask that you withdraw orders for punishment. We have nowhere to go, no place to escape. I am well aware that the only way out is to take my own life." He appealed, "I have no desire for power." However, Kim Jong-un persistently sought an opportunity to kill his half-brother for the past five years, and incidentally succeeded the day after launching the missile.

⊆ Why Malaysia?
Malaysia is a country with diplomatic ties with North Korea and also the hub of Southeast Asia. If it turns out that North Korea carried out an assassination in Malaysia, relations between the two countries is bound to grow uncomfortable. The relationship with neighboring countries is also expected to deteriorate. Still, North Korea chose the Kuala Lumpur International Airport as the place for the murder. The North may have carried out "the task" before Kim Jong-nam moved to an area under the protection of China. At the time of the murder, Kim Jong-nam was standing in line to board a flight for Macau.

Kim Jong-nam had entered Malaysia on February 6, stayed for about a week, and was about to depart for Macau where his second wife lives with his daughter and son. Pyongyang may have judged that once Kim Jong-nam entered Macau, it would not be easy for them to keep an eye on his whereabouts and schedules. Since the airport is a busy place, they may have determined it most suitable for the assassination.

According to the NIS, Kim Jong-nam had traveled to Malaysia on countless occasions previously. There is also word that he has a lover in Malaysia. The intelligence authority said they had noted how the number of North Korea's State Security Department agents in Malaysia had increased noticeably since last year.