Yahoo: North Korea’s ex-ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam dies at 97, state media says
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Kim Yong-nam was a North Korean politician who served as the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, from 1998 until 2019. Due to holding the office, he was considered the head of state of North Korea; the country's constitution was amended once he left office in 2019 to transfer this position to the president of the State Affairs Commission, Kim Jong Un. Previo…
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politics · North Korean politician (1928–2025) · politician · diplomat · also Kim Yong-nam, Kim Yeong-nam, Yong-nam
Born 4 February 1928 · Died 3 November 2025 · Q110456
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Yahoo: North Korea’s ex-ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam dies at 97, state media says
Died 2025-11-03.
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Attended a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s death
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In a government reshuffle, aged 91, after almost 21 years as President of the SPA Presidium and almost 41 years as Party Politburo member (having first been elected to the body in August 1978)
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To transfer this position to the president of the State Affairs Commission, Kim Jong Un
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Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II
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Awarded Order of Kim Jong Il (2012).
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Kim met Vietnamese president Nguyen Minh Triet on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Egypt
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2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 7, 2014, 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 9, 2018, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony on June 14, 2018
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Embarked on a goodwill tour of four African states
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Awarded Hero of Labor (1998).
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Career landmark: President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (1998–2019).
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Was responsible for the arrangement of unofficial diplomatic contacts with the United States through their respective embassies in Beijing
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Career landmark: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1983–1998).
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Awarded Order of Kim Il Sung (1982).
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Became the chairman of the WPK Central Committee’s Foreign Department and a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly
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Became a section chief at the Foreign Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and was a vice minister for foreign affairs by 1962
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Born 1928-02-04.
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