Former North Korean head of state and veteran diplomat, Kim Yong Nam, has died at the age of 97, state media reported on Tuesday.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim, who led the country’s parliament for more than two decades and was regarded as one of the nation’s most steadfast loyalists, died on Monday from multiple organ failure related to cancer.
KCNA described him as “an old-generation revolutionary who left extraordinary achievements in the development history of our party and country,” adding that leader Kim Jong Un personally visited his bier early Tuesday to pay respects. A state funeral is scheduled for Thursday.
Kim Yong Nam served as President of the Supreme People’s Assembly from 1998 to April 2019 — a position that made him North Korea’s official head of state, while real power remained with the ruling Kim family.
Throughout his career, Kim was a fixture in state ceremonies, known for his commanding oratory and frequent appearances welcoming foreign dignitaries on behalf of North Korea’s top leaders, including Kim Jong Il and later Kim Jong Un.
Born in Pyongyang, Kim studied at Kim Il Sung University and Moscow State University, building a long diplomatic career that spanned decades. In 2018, he traveled to South Korea alongside Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, to attend the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — a rare moment of diplomacy that marked his final high-profile international appearance.
His death marks the end of an era for one of North Korea’s longest-serving political figures and a loyal supporter of the Kim dynasty.
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