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North Korea's Kim Yong Nam, longtime diplomat and ceremonial leader, dies at 97
Kim Yong Nam, North Korea's former ceremonial head of state and a career diplomat under three generations of the ruling Kim dynasty, died on 3 November at age 97, state media reported. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited multiple organ failure as the cause of death.
Decades of service under the Kim regime
Kim Yong Nam held the largely symbolic post of president of the Supreme People's Assembly-the country's rubber-stamp legislature-from 1998 until his retirement in 2019. Though unrelated to the ruling family, he served as a senior official under founder Kim Il Sung, his son Kim Jong Il, and grandson Kim Jong Un.
Born during Japan's colonial rule of Korea, Kim Yong Nam studied at Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang and later in Moscow before ascending through the ranks of the ruling Workers' Party. His early career included roles in the foreign ministry, where he became a trusted representative of the regime abroad.
International face of North Korea
Despite wielding no real power, Kim Yong Nam frequently represented Pyongyang on the global stage. In 2018, he led a high-profile delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea, meeting then-President Moon Jae-in. The trip included Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, marking a rare inter-Korean diplomatic exchange.
He also attended inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007, engaging with former South Korean presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, respectively. South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young later praised his contributions, recalling "meaningful conversations about peace on the Korean peninsula."
Survival in a volatile system
Kim Yong Nam's longevity in North Korea's political elite was exceptional. Unlike many officials purged or executed for perceived disloyalty-such as Kim Jong Un's uncle Chang Song Thaek, executed in 2013 for "treachery"-he avoided demotion or scandal. Thae Yong Ho, a former North Korean diplomat now residing in South Korea, described him as a "perfect role model" for survival under the regime.
"He never made his own opinions known... He had no close allies or enemies. He never showed any creativity. He only repeated what the Kim family had said before."
Thae Yong Ho, former North Korean diplomat
KCNA hailed Kim Yong Nam as an "old-generation revolutionary" who made "extraordinary achievements" in the country's development. A state funeral was held following his death.
Legacy of discretion
Analysts note that Kim Yong Nam's ability to navigate North Korea's treacherous political landscape-without ever challenging the Kim family's authority-secured his decades-long career. His death marks the end of an era for a figure who embodied the regime's diplomatic continuity amid internal purges.
