PRES. TRUMP AWARDED INAUGURAL FIFA PEACE PRIZE AT WORLD CUP DRAW IN WASHINGTON . (PHOTOS).
North Korea holds funeral for longtime ceremonial leader
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a state funeral for Kim Yong Nam, the country’s longtime ceremonial head of state, who passed away this week at the age of 97. The ceremony, held on Wednesday at the Patriotic Martyrs’ Cemetery in Pyongyang, brought together senior officials, family members, and a 100-member funeral committee to honor the veteran statesman. Kim Jong Un led the proceedings as mourners lined the streets, bowing as Kim Yong Nam’s flag-draped coffin and large portrait were carried to the burial site. Once the procession arrived, Premier Pak Thae Song delivered a eulogy, followed by a moment of silent tribute led by Kim Jong Un and other top officials dressed in black suits and military attire.
Kim Yong Nam, though not related to the ruling Kim family, played a central role in North Korean politics for decades. He served as the president of the Supreme People’s Assembly from 1998 to 2019, a position that made him the nation’s nominal head of state while real power remained with Kim Jong Un and his predecessors. Known for his diplomatic engagements, Kim Yong Nam represented North Korea at major international events, including the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, where he joined Kim Yo Jong in a rare outreach effort to Seoul and Washington. Those talks ultimately collapsed in 2019 following a failed summit between Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump. State media reported that Kim Yong Nam had been receiving treatment for colon cancer since mid-2024 and died earlier this week due to multiple organ failure.
Comments
Post a Comment