( CNN ) -- Not many people get a personal invitation to visit North Korea 's new leader Kim Jong Un . Kenji Fujimoto was the personal sushi chef of Kim 's father , the late Kim Jong Il , before fleeing to his native Japan in 2001 , fearing his life was in danger . More than a decade later , he returned to North Korea and described a warm reunion with the young Kim . `` I jumped up to hug him , shouting 'Comrade General ' and instantly burst into tears ... He hugged me back , the first hug in 11 years . I said , 'Fujimoto the betrayer is back now , ' and I apologized for all I did and all I disclosed about him . He said , 'OK , do n't worry anymore . ' '' Fujimoto has written a number of books about the Kim family since he left North Korea . The former chef says he often played with the young Kim before he escaped . During his recent two-week visit , he says Kim thanked him for playing with him and talked about their going horse-riding , jet-skiing ; playing tennis , basketball ; and rollerblading together . Fujimoto said of the young leader , `` I was surprised how gentle a person he is . '' It is not clear why the younger Kim decided to invite Fujimoto back to North Korea , but it is clear that Fujimoto is unwilling to say anything negative about him or the country . Speaking of Pyongyang , he said , `` I went window shopping from the third day . There are plenty of goods in shops . That 's already a big difference . There was nothing there 10 years ago ... I guess it changed drastically since the Kim Jong Un era started . '' More : North Korea rebuffs aid from South . Pyongyang has improved over the past decade , but it is a city for the elite and chosen . In the countryside that few visitors are allowed to see , the situation is very different . Aid groups say food is scarce and malnutrition high . It may not surprise many that Fujimoto , with his glowing praise , sounds at times like a spokesman for the regime . His wife and children are still living in Pyongyang . Fujimoto claims they want to stay , but there is no way to know for sure . Spending every day with his family , he then stayed the night in a room in the Secretary 's department , claiming he needed to for safety , as there are many who do not forgive him , as he says Kim has done . Fujimoto also met Kim 's wife whom the world did not even know about a couple of weeks ago . Of Ri Sol-ju he said , `` She is just so charming . I can not describe her voice , it 's so soft ... She said to me , 'Welcome to the republic . Our comrade the Supreme Commander missed you the most . He was always talking about you . Thank you for coming . ' Kim organized a party in Fujimoto 's honor , according to the chef . He says they talked about old times and did not mention the current situation of North Korea at all . He does admit forgetting how the party ended after he had a few drinks . `` When I regained consciousness , I was on a bed . I asked if I did anything disrespectful . No one said I did , so I felt relieved . '' Fujimoto says Kim gave him a free pass to visit North Korea whenever he wanted , an invitation few have . The benefit of the visit for Kim 's international reputation is not lost on Fujimoto . `` I said clearly that if I go back to Japan safely , the reputation of Supreme Commander 'Comrade General ' would soar enormously , '' he said . Fujimoto is now willing to tell all who will listen about the virtues of the young North Korean leader . More on North Korea : Typhoon tourism .
He has written a number of books about the Kim family since leaving N. Korea . During visit , he meets Kim Jong Il and his wife . He says Kim gave him a free pass to visit N. Korea whenever he wants .