Kim Yong-nam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Yong-nam
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| 김영남 | |
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Kim in 2014
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| President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly | |
| In office 5 September 1998 – 11 April 2019 |
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| Leader | |
| Preceded by | Yang Hyong-sop |
| Succeeded by | Choe Ryong-hae |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1 December 1983 – 5 September 1998 |
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| Premier | Hong Song-nam Kang Song-san Yon Hyong-muk Ri Kun-mo Kang Song-san Ri Jong-ok |
| Preceded by | Ho Dam |
| Succeeded by | Paek Nam-sun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 February 1928 Heijō, Heian’nan-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan (today Pyongyang, North Korea) |
| Political party | Workers' Party of Korea |
| Alma mater | Tomsk State University Rostov State University |
| Signature |  |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
김영남
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| Hanja |
金永南
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| RR | Gim Yeongnam |
| MR | Kim Yŏngnam |
Kim Yong-nam (Hangul: 김영남; born on February 4, 1928) is a North Korean politician who is now retired. He was a very important leader in North Korea for many years.
From 1998 to 2019, he served as the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. This role meant he was considered the "head of state" of North Korea. Before that, he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1983 to 1998.
Early Life and Career
Kim Yong-nam was born in Pyongyang, which is now the capital of North Korea. After finishing university, he worked as a teacher. He then started working for the Workers' Party of Korea, which is the main political party in North Korea.
He held several important positions in the government. He became a vice-minister for foreign affairs in 1962. Later, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1983. In this role, he was in charge of North Korea's relationships with other countries. He even helped arrange talks with the United States through their embassies in Beijing.
As the President of the Presidium, Kim Yong-nam was a very high-ranking official. He held this position for almost 21 years. People saw him as a smart and important person behind the scenes in North Korea's government. He was known for his strong political and diplomatic skills.
Diplomatic Activities
Kim Yong-nam traveled to many countries as a representative of North Korea. In 2007, he went on a two-week trip to countries like Mongolia, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Singapore.
In 2008, he visited four African countries on a "goodwill tour." He went to Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. During these trips, he met with leaders and signed agreements to help cooperation between countries. For example, in Namibia, he was there for the opening of a new presidential home built by North Korea.
Kim also attended several major international events. He was present at the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2014 Winter Olympics, and 2018 Winter Olympics. He also attended the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.
In 2015, he represented North Korea at the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade in Russia. This parade celebrated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. He also visited Equatorial Guinea in 2016 for a presidential inauguration. His last known international appearance was in Mexico in 2018 for the inauguration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Retirement
Kim Yong-nam retired from his position on April 11, 2019. He was 91 years old at the time. He had served as President of the Presidium for nearly 21 years. He had also been a member of the Workers' Party's top political group for about 40 years.
Even after retiring, he still appeared at some important events. In 2022, he took part in a concert and banquet celebrating the Day of the Foundation of the Republic.
See also
In Spanish: Kim Yong-nam para niños
- Politics of North Korea
