Unification Minister Chung Dong-young prolonged his condolences Tuesday over the demise of Kim Yong-nam, former titular head of North Korea, saying in a message that he had contributed to the event of inter-Korean ties.
North Korea’s state media stated earlier within the day that Kim, former chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme Individuals’s Meeting, died the day before today from a number of organ failure associated to most cancers. He had been battling colorectal most cancers since June final yr.
“I categorical my condolences over the demise of Kim,” Chung stated in a message launched to the press on behalf of the federal government, additionally extending solace to his bereaved household and North Korean officers.
The minister recalled Kim’s go to to South Korea as head of North Korea’s delegation to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, noting that it helped open inter-Korean dialogue at the moment.
Chung stated he additionally met him twice in Pyongyang, in 2005 and 2018, the place that they had “significant discussions” on peace and the event of inter-Korean relations.
A ministry official stated the federal government issued the condolences within the minister’s identify, as an alternative of sending them on to North Korea, as communication traces with Pyongyang stay shuttered.
Kim had led North Korea’s diplomacy for many years, spanning the regimes of nationwide founder Kim Il-sung, late chief Kim Jong-il and present chief Kim Jong-un.
For 21 years because the begin of Kim Jong-il’s rule, he served as chairman of the parliamentary standing committee, a place that at the moment represented the top of state, albeit in a titular capability.
Beneath Kim Jong-il, the previous parliamentary standing committee chairman dealt with most summit diplomacy on behalf of the chief, who tended to keep away from exterior affairs, successfully rising as North Korea’s consultant on the worldwide stage.
North Korea stated it’ll maintain a state funeral for Kim Yong-nam on Tuesday and his coffin will go away a funeral facility Wednesday to be laid to relaxation. North Korean chief Kim Jong-un visited his bier early Tuesday to precise “deep condolences,” in line with state media.
