Amanze Chinonye
North Korea’s former ceremonial head of state and veteran diplomat, Kim Yong Nam, has died at the age of 97, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The state media outlet reported on Tuesday that Kim, who served as President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) from 1998 until his retirement in 2019, died on Monday of multiple organ failure related to cancer.
Kim Yong Nam was the only person outside the ruling Kim family dynasty to serve as North Korea’s nominal head of state. Despite his largely ceremonial role, Kim was for decades one of the most visible figures representing the isolated nation abroad.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelKCNA said leader Kim Jong Un visited the bier of the late statesman early Tuesday to pay his condolences, describing him as a “faithful revolutionary” who “upheld the Party’s ideology and leadership with distinction.” North Korea will hold a state funeral on Thursday, with a committee of 100 members headed by Kim Jong Un himself.
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Born in 1928 in Pyongyang into what KCNA described as “a patriotic family resisting Japanese colonial rule,” Kim Yong Nam joined the Workers’ Party of Korea in the mid-1950s. Over the following decades, he rose steadily through the ranks of the foreign ministry, serving as foreign minister from 1983 to 1998 before assuming the SPA Presidium chairmanship.
As the country’s ceremonial leader, Kim Yong Nam played a key role in North Korea’s diplomacy under three generations of the ruling family – Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. He was regarded as the face of Pyongyang’s foreign policy and often represented the country in official state visits and international forums.
He was notably the only senior North Korean official known never to have been purged or disciplined by either Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il, according to Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the U.S.-based Stimson Center.
Under Kim Jong Un, Kim continued to serve as the regime’s leading diplomatic figure, welcoming visiting dignitaries to Pyongyang and attending international events.
In February 2018, he led North Korea’s delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, where he met then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a rare display of inter-Korean engagement. During the opening ceremony, Kim sat near then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, although no direct contact was made between the two sides.
That trip marked the highest-level North Korean visit to South Korea since 2014 and came during a period of tentative diplomatic thaw that later saw Kim Jong Un hold three summits with then-U.S. President Donald Trump between 2018 and 2019.
South Korea’s former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed condolences over Kim Yong Nam’s death, recalling past meetings in Pyongyang and noting that Kim had contributed to “opening South-North dialogue” and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Kim Yong Nam’s political survival and long tenure reflected his status as a quintessential North Korean bureaucrat, disciplined, cautious, and deeply loyal. He navigated decades of internal purges and political shifts, maintaining favor through three generations of leadership.
He was appointed to the Politburo in 1978 and was known for his commanding presence and propagandist oratory, often delivering speeches lauding the Kim family’s rule in a deep, booming voice.
International observers note that Kim’s passing symbolizes the end of an era, as he was among the last surviving figures from the Kim Il Sung generation who helped shape North Korea’s modern statecraft. His successor, Choe Ryong Hae, took over as SPA Presidium Chairman in April 2019, marking a generational handover in the country’s hierarchy.
Kim studied at Kim Il Sung University and later at Moscow State University, where he was trained in foreign relations. His experience made him a key architect of Pyongyang’s outreach to non-aligned nations during the Cold War, including participation in major international forums such as the 2012 Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Iran.
Despite his ceremonial position, Kim Yong Nam’s career left a lasting imprint on North Korea’s diplomacy and governance. His death underscores the steady fading of the revolutionary generation that built and sustained the regime’s political order for more than seven decades.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
