Pyongyang: North Korea's state media announced the passing of Kim Yong-nam, the former titular head of state who played a pivotal role in the country's diplomatic affairs for decades. He died at the age of 97, with leader Kim Jong-un expressing his condolences earlier in the day.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yong-nam, who formerly chaired North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, succumbed to multiple organ failure due to cancer-linked poisoning. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) noted that Kim had been battling colorectal cancer since June of the previous year.
Kim Jong-un visited Kim Yong-nam's bier early Tuesday morning to pay his respects, accompanied by senior party and government officials, as reported by the KCNA. The visit underscores the high regard in which Kim Yong-nam was held within North Korean leadership circles.
Kim Yong-nam gained international recognition when he led North Korea's delegation to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics in South Korea. His participation marked a significant moment in inter-Korean diplomacy.
A state funeral has been organized by the parliamentary standing committee and the cabinet to honor Kim Yong-nam, with his coffin scheduled to be moved on Wednesday for burial. The funeral committee includes prominent figures such as Kim Jong-un, Premier Pak Thae-song, and the current parliamentary standing committee chairman Choe Ryong-hae.
Born to a family described as "anti-Japanese patriots," Kim Yong-nam's academic journey took him to Kim Il Sung University and later to Moscow, Russia. His career in public service was marked by significant diplomatic roles under the leadership of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un.
During Kim Il-sung's tenure, Kim Yong-nam served as foreign minister, later becoming the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee under Kim Jong-il. This role, while largely ceremonial, positioned him as North Korea's representative in international affairs, especially as Kim Jong-il preferred not to engage directly in diplomacy.
In 2018, as head of the North Korean delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, he facilitated critical diplomatic exchanges, including a meeting with then South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Kim Yong-nam retired from public service in 2019 at the age of 91, concluding a distinguished career that spanned six decades.
The KCNA reflected on his legacy, stating, "Comrade Kim Yong-nam, an old-generation revolutionary who left extraordinary achievements in the development history of our party and country, wrapped up his noble life at the age of 97."