04.11.2025 17:21
The former chairman of North Korea's parliament and long regarded as the country's "protocol leader," Kim Yong-nam, has passed away at the age of 97. The state news agency KCNA announced that the cause of death was multiple organ failure.
One of the most recognized figures in North Korean politics, former Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong-nam, passed away at the age of 97. In a statement made by KCNA, it was noted that the cause of Yong-nam's death was multiple organ failure.
HE HELD THE STATUS OF "HEAD OF STATE" IN PROTOCOL
Kim Yong-nam served as the Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly from 1998 to 2019. This position elevated him to the status of "head of state" in the country's official protocol. However, actual power has always been in the hands of Kim Jong-un and his family.
Yong-nam led the North Korean delegation during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics hosted by South Korea in 2018. Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's sister, was also part of the delegation, and Yong-nam's decision to leave his honorary seat to Yo-jong during the meetings was interpreted by the South Korean press as "a symbolic message regarding the power dynamics in Pyongyang."
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE FROM SEOUL
South Korean Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young, in a message released following Yong-nam's death, stated, "We had constructive dialogue for peace in Pyongyang in 2005 and 2018." Chung also reminded that the 2018 meeting "laid the groundwork for the resumption of North-South dialogue."
HE WAS THE "FACE" OF NORTH KOREAN DIPLOMACY
For many years, Kim Yong-nam was recognized as North Korea's diplomatic face on the international stage. Western diplomats described him as one of the regime's most moderate and outward-looking representatives. Experts indicate that Yong-nam's death will create a significant void in North Korea's foreign policy tradition.