North Korea’s long-serving diplomat and former head of state, Kim Yong Nam, has died from multiple organ failure, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced on Monday.
His death marks the end of an era for one of the few figures to have served under all three generations of the Kim dynasty.
According to KCNA, Kim Yong Nam’s death was confirmed over the weekend, with leader Kim Jong Unpersonally visiting his bier to pay his final respects.
“Kim Jong Un visited his bier to express deep condolences over his death,” the state-run agency reported.
A photo released by KCNA showed Kim Jong Un, flanked by senior officials, bowing before the glass coffin containing Kim Yong Nam’s body.
Kim Yong Nam, once considered one of the most powerful figures in North Korea’s political circle, had long served as the country’s nominal head of state, though real power always rested with the late Kim Jong Iland his son, Kim Jong Un.
His ability to navigate the nation’s intricate leadership structure for decades was often viewed as a sign of his political skill and loyalty.
In 2018, Kim Yong Nam made headlines when he led the North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympicsin Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The visit was part of a rare diplomatic thaw between the two Koreas, which technically remain at war.
However, despite being the official head of the delegation, South Korean media reported that Kim Yong Nam deferred the seat of honor to Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, during a meeting with South Korean officials.
Seoul’s unification ministry expressed its condolences in a statement on Monday.
Minister Chung Dong-young recalled past interactions with the late diplomat, saying, “He engaged in meaningful discussions on peace on the Korean Peninsula when I met with him in Pyongyang in 2005 and 2018.”
Chung added that Kim Yong Nam’s 2018 participation in the Pyeongchang Olympics helped “open the door to inter-Korean dialogue” at a critical time in North-South relations.
He was often regarded as the face of North Korea’s diplomacy, representing the regime in international forums and state visits, even when global tensions ran high.
