Searching Kim Jong Chol: A story of rock, roll, and the heavenly music of Clapton

It was a big night for him, Kim Jong Un’s elder brother Kim Jong Chol is a true rock-and-roll fan, and his dreams of seeing his idol live was finally becoming a reality for him. Join us as we unfold the story of how the elder brother of Korea’s dictator attended Clapton’s magical musical night.

A few years ago, Thae Yong Ho, North Korea's former deputy ambassador in London, received an unexpected phone call from the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee in Pyongyang telling him to get ready to receive a very important email.

A musical surprise lay in wait for him!

Thae, who defected from North Korea to the South Korea last year, described the then 35-year-old as a polite young man who said little about his life back in Pyongyang or the politics of his brother. 

"He's very free," Thae added. "But he's only interested in guitars and music." It seemed like the infamous dictator's younger brother was genuinely into rocking and rolling!

Just like Clapton, Kim Jong Chol is an accomplished lead guitarist and jams regularly with the woman, Thae said. In the days leading up to Clapton's birthday concert, Thae took Kim to Denmark Street, a street in London's glitzy West End packed with guitar and musical instrument shops. 

A video surfaced of the May 2015 concert showing Chol sporting a leather jacket and wearing aviator sunglasses with a woman beside him. The woman was later identified as the rhythm guitarist for an all-female North Korean pop band, "Moranbong."

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