Kim Yong Nam, a significant figure in North Korea’s political landscape and a loyalist to the Kim family, has passed away at the age of 97, marking the end of an era for the nation’s leadership. Serving as the head of the Supreme People’s Assembly for over two decades, Kim’s contributions to North Korea’s diplomatic relations and parliamentary framework remain noteworthy. His life and legacy illustrate the complex interplay of loyalty, authority, and historical continuity within the North Korean state apparatus.
Kim Yong Nam, the former nominal head of state of North Korea, has died at the age of 97, as reported by state media on November 4, 2025. Known for his unwavering loyalty to the ruling Kim family, he served as the head of the Supreme People’s Assembly for more than two decades and was a prominent senior diplomat. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yong Nam passed away from multiple organ failure due to cancer.
KCNA characterized Kim as an “old-generation revolutionary” who made exceptional contributions to the nation’s political development. Following his death, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid tribute to Kim Yong Nam, visiting his bier early on Tuesday, and a funeral service has been organized for Thursday.
Famous for his powerful and resonant speeches at strategic state events, Kim Yong Nam was often seen in state media welcoming visiting foreign dignitaries on behalf of Kim Jong Un and his late father, Kim Jong Il. His steadfast allegiance to the Kim dynasty allowed him to maintain his ceremonial position as the country’s nominal head of state for two decades, influencing North Korean politics from a largely supportive role.
Kim Yong Nam, while not directly related to Kim Jong Un—who is the grandson of the nation’s founder, Kim Il Sung—was an integral part of the state’s leadership framework. He held the position of head of the Supreme People’s Assembly from 1998 until April 2019, a role typically viewed as a ceremonial head of state, as the true power continues to reside within the Kim family, which has governed North Korea since its establishment in 1948.
Throughout his political career, Kim Yong Nam played a pivotal role during significant historical transitions, such as reading an elegy at the passing of Kim Il Sung in 1994 and nominating Kim Jong Il as chairman of the National Defence Commission after a three-year mourning period.
His influence extended beyond rhetoric; in February 2018, he traveled to South Korea alongside Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, to partake in the Pyeongchang Olympic Games opening ceremony. This visit represented a notable moment in efforts to stabilize diplomatic relations with South Korea and the United States amid a backdrop of prior tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Notably, Kim Yong Nam became the highest-ranking North Korean official to visit South Korea since the previous 2014 Asian Games.
Despite sitting close to then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during the Pyeongchang ceremony, no direct engagement occurred between the two sides. The dialogue initiated during this period peaked with the summits between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019. However, Kim Yong Nam did not participate in these significant talks, and his influence appeared to diminish with age.
In April 2019, he was succeeded as head of parliament by Choe Ryong Hae, a trusted confidant of Kim Jong Un and a senior figure in North Korea’s military hierarchy. A native of Pyongyang, Kim Yong Nam received education from both Kim Il Sung University and Moscow State University, illustrating his connection to both domestic and international educational influences.
#PoliticsNews #WorldNews