North Korea Honors Late Leader Kim Yong Nam with State Funeral

North Korea held a state funeral on Wednesday for Kim Yong Nam, the country’s longtime ceremonial head of state, who passed away at the age of 97. The funeral was led by Kim Jong Un, who was joined by senior officials from a 100-member funeral committee, along with family members. According to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yong Nam was interred at the Patriotic Martyrs’ Cemetery in Pyongyang.

Images released by state media captured the somber atmosphere as citizens observed a moment of mourning. A car carrying Kim Yong Nam’s flag-draped coffin, accompanied by a large portrait, made its way through the streets, where residents bowed in respect. At the cemetery, Kim Jong Un and other high-ranking officials awaited the arrival of the procession.

During the ceremony, Pak Thae Song, the North Korean Premier, delivered a eulogy celebrating Kim Yong Nam’s contributions. Mourners, dressed in black suits and military uniforms, bowed silently as Kim Yong Nam’s remains were laid to rest. KCNA reported that attendees prayed for the “immortality of the pure soul and revolutionary spirit” of the deceased leader.

Kim Yong Nam held the position of head of North Korea’s parliament from 1998 until April 2019, a role that designated him as the country’s nominal head of state. However, the actual authority has consistently been concentrated within the ruling Kim family, which has governed North Korea since 1948.

His tenure included significant diplomatic engagements, most notably in February 2018, when he attended the opening of the Winter Olympics in South Korea alongside Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong. This visit marked a crucial moment in North Korea’s efforts to improve relations with both South Korea and the United States, as the country sought to leverage its nuclear capabilities for economic benefits. These diplomatic efforts ultimately faltered in 2019 following a failed summit between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, primarily due to unresolved issues surrounding international sanctions.

Kim Yong Nam was succeeded by Choe Ryong Hae in April 2019. Reports indicate that he had been receiving treatment for colon cancer since June of the previous year and succumbed to multiple organ failures on Monday.

The state funeral reflects both the deep-seated reverence for Kim Yong Nam’s role in North Korea’s political landscape and the continuing dynastic nature of leadership in the country, where the Kim family maintains an enduring grip on power.