Kim Yong Nam, a prominent figure in North Korea’s political landscape and a lifelong supporter of the ruling Kim dynasty, has passed away at the age of 97, as reported by state media. Serving as the ceremonial head of state and president of the Supreme People’s Assembly from 1998 to 2019, Kim Yong Nam was a key diplomat under the regimes of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. Although not related to the Kim family, he played a significant role in representing North Korea on the international stage. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), he died of multiple organ failure on November 3. KCNA praised him as an “old-generation revolutionary” who contributed immensely to the nation’s development. A state funeral was held in his honor. Born during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean peninsula, Kim Yong Nam hailed from a family of “anti-Japanese patriots.” He studied at Kim Il Sung University and later in Moscow, beginning his political career in the 1950s. Rising from a low-ranking official to foreign minister and eventually chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly, he maintained a clean reputation, avoiding the purges that befell many other high-ranking officials. In 2018, he led a North Korean delegation to South Korea during the Winter Olympics, meeting then-President Moon Jae-in. He also participated in inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007. South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed condolences, recalling meaningful discussions about peace on the Korean peninsula. Former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong Ho described Kim Yong Nam as a model of survival in North Korea’s political system, emphasizing his ability to avoid controversy and maintain loyalty to the regime. Unlike many officials who faced demotion or execution, Kim Yong Nam retired peacefully in 2019, marking a rare end to a long and stable career in North Korea’s volatile political environment.