Kim Yong Nam, who served as North Korea’s ceremonial head of state for over two decades, has died at the age of 97, state media announced on Tuesday.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim passed away from multiple organ failure.
He served as the president of the Supreme People’s Assembly’s presidium from 1998 to 2019—a position that made him the country’s official representative in diplomatic events, though core power remained firmly with the ruling Kim family.
“Kim Yong Nam devoted his life to the independence and dignity of the state,” KCNA reported, describing him as a “veteran revolutionary” who maintained loyalty across shifting eras in North Korean leadership.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly visited the funeral bier to pay his respects. Photographs released by state media showed Kim Jong Un standing beside senior officials before the glass coffin.
A senior North Korean official was quoted as saying, “His long service to the republic reflected his unwavering commitment to our leadership and our cause.”
Kim Yong Nam was known internationally for leading delegations to global events. In 2018, he headed North Korea’s delegation to the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea—an appearance widely interpreted as part of a rare diplomatic outreach. However, observers noted that during official meetings, he appeared to defer prominence to Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un.
Political analysts say his longevity in office was linked to his ability to navigate North Korea’s highly controlled and often volatile political hierarchy.
“Kim Yong Nam played his role with a careful balance of loyalty and restraint,” a Seoul-based analyst told international media. “He survived because he understood the symbolic expectations placed on him.”
Kim’s funeral and state mourning arrangements are expected to follow standard protocol for senior officials.
