Kim Yong Nam, former head of state of North Korea and a close associate of the Kim family, has passed away at the age of 97.

Kim Yong Nam, the former president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, passed away on Monday at the age of 97, according to the official KCNA agency. He was a symbolic figure in the North Korean regime, having a diplomatic career that began under Kim Il Sung and continued under Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un. Although his role became more ceremonial in recent years, Kim Yong Nam had significant influence due to his connections with North Korean diplomats. Born in 1928, he was the only high-ranking official who was not purged or sanctioned by previous leaders. Kim Yong Nam represented North Korea at international events, including the 2018 Winter Olympics, where he had a meeting with the South Korean president. State funerals will be organized in his memory.