Kim Yong Nam, the longtime diplomat and former ceremonial head of state for North Korea, has died at the age of 97, according to reports from the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and corroborated by international outlets including Reuters and UPI. His passing on Monday, November 3, 2025, marks the end of an era for North Korean politics, as Kim was the only person outside the ruling Kim family to serve as the country’s nominal head of state. Kim Jong Un, the current leader, visited Kim Yong Nam’s bier early Tuesday to pay his respects, a gesture widely reported by state and international media.
Kim Yong Nam’s career spanned more than six decades, during which he served under all three leaders of the Kim dynasty: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. Born in Pyongyang in February 1928, Kim’s early education included time at Kim Il Sung University and later at Moscow State University, reflecting North Korea’s strong historical ties to the former Soviet Union. According to KCNA and South Korean government records, he began his diplomatic career in the 1950s, joining the international department of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.
By 1978, Kim had risen to the ranks of the Politburo, North Korea’s highest decision-making body. In 1983, he was appointed both deputy prime minister and foreign minister, positions that allowed him to shape North Korea’s foreign policy during some of the most turbulent years of the Cold War. Over the next fifteen years, Kim became the public face of North Korean diplomacy, often meeting with foreign dignitaries and representing the country on the international stage.
His diplomatic acumen was especially evident in 2002, when he received then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Pyongyang for historic talks with Kim Jong Il. This meeting marked a rare moment of engagement between North Korea and Japan, two countries with a long history of tension. According to Reuters, Kim’s role in such summits made him the face of North Korea’s outreach to the world, even as real power remained tightly held by the Kim family.
In 1998, Kim Yong Nam was appointed as President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, a position that made him North Korea’s ceremonial head of state. He retained this role until his retirement in 2019 at the age of 91. While his duties were largely symbolic, Kim’s influence extended beyond ceremony. Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert with the Stimson Center, noted to Reuters, “Despite having a largely ceremonial role in the latter part of his career, Kim Yong Nam had a high degree of influence through patronage connections to North Korea’s diplomats and foreign service personnel.”
Remarkably, Kim was the only senior North Korean official never to be purged, disciplined, or demoted by either Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il—a rare feat in a political system known for its frequent and often brutal reshuffles. UPI highlighted his longevity, describing him as “an exceedingly rare fixture in North Korea’s upper echelons.”
Kim was often tasked with representing North Korea at high-profile international events. One of his most significant diplomatic forays came in February 2018, when he traveled to South Korea as head of the North Korean delegation for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Accompanied by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong Un, Kim Yong Nam met with then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in. This visit helped spark a brief thaw in inter-Korean relations, with South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young later stating, “Kim’s delegation to the Pyeongchang Olympics contributed to opening the door to inter-Korean dialogue.”
Kim’s role in these diplomatic overtures was not lost on state media. KCNA’s obituary described his life as “a brilliant one in which he was highly honored for his allegiance to the revolution with pure loyalty and high ability under the care of the Party and the leader.” It further praised his “unique ability and experience in the international arena,” crediting him with “remarkable merits in the history of the DPRK’s politics and diplomacy.”
His career was not without its challenges. North Korea’s international isolation, economic sanctions, and repeated leadership transitions made the diplomatic arena a difficult one to navigate. Yet, Kim’s ability to survive—and even thrive—amidst these pressures spoke to his political skill and adaptability. According to UPI, “His longevity in a political system prone to purges, reshuffles and executions made him an exceedingly rare fixture in North Korea’s upper echelons.”
Kim Yong Nam’s passing comes after a long battle with colorectal cancer, which he had been fighting since June 2024. KCNA reported that he died of multiple organ failure, a complication of his illness. In the wake of his death, the North Korean government announced a state funeral, forming a 100-member national funeral committee led by Kim Jong Un. The ceremony underscores the high regard in which Kim was held by the regime, despite his status as a non-family member in a system dominated by dynastic rule.
International reaction to Kim’s death has been measured, reflecting both the significance of his role and the opacity of North Korean politics. South Korean officials, including Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, extended condolences and acknowledged Kim’s contributions to inter-Korean peace efforts. “I engaged in meaningful discussions about peace on the Korean Peninsula and the advancement of inter-Korean relations,” Chung recalled of his meetings with Kim in Pyongyang in 2005 and 2018.
Kim Yong Nam’s retirement in 2019 marked the end of an era for North Korea’s diplomatic corps. His departure was seen by many analysts as the closing of a chapter defined by cautious engagement and carefully managed public appearances. Yet, his legacy endures in the country’s approach to international relations—a blend of rigid protocol, strategic outreach, and unwavering loyalty to the ruling Kim family.
As North Korea continues to face both internal and external challenges, the passing of Kim Yong Nam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between ceremony and substance in the country’s political life. His ability to maintain influence and avoid political peril for so many decades is likely to be studied by future generations of North Korean officials—and by those seeking to understand one of the world’s most secretive regimes.
With Kim Jong Un now firmly at the helm and a new generation of leaders rising through the ranks, North Korea’s diplomatic future remains uncertain. But for now, the country pauses to honor a man whose life, in the words of KCNA, was “highly honored for his allegiance to the revolution with pure loyalty and high ability.”
