North Korea's head of state 'Kim' dies aged 97

North Korea's former ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong Nam, has died at the age of 97.

Kim was a lifelong supporter of the ruling dynasty and served under three generations of Kim family - Kim II Sung, his son Kim Jong II and his grandson Kim Jong Un.

He held several diplomatic roles, including that of a foreign minister under the one-family regime of North Korea and most prominently served as the president of the Supreme People’s Assembly from 1998 to 2019.

Kim retired in April 2019. 

The state-run North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim died of multiple organ failure on November 3, 2025, adding that a state funeral was held for him.

Kim Yong Nam, though never held any real power, was highly regarded as the international face of the republic. 

He led the North Korean delegation to South Korea during the Winter Olympics in 2018 and met the latter’s then president Moon Jae-in.

In a rare gesture, South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young offered condolences, saying, “I had many meaningful conversations with Kim Yong Nam about peace in the Korean peninsula.”

The state-run agency honored the veteran leader as an “old-generation revolutionary who played a key part in the development of the ruling party and nation.”