Kim Yong-nam

Kim Yong-nam
Kim in 2014
President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly
In office
September 5, 1998 – April 11, 2019
Leader
Preceded byYang Hyong-sop
Succeeded byChoe Ryong-hae
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
December 1, 1983 – September 5, 1998
PremierHong Song-nam
Kang Song-san
Yon Hyong-muk
Ri Kun-mo
Kang Song-san
Ri Jong-ok
Preceded byHo Dam
Succeeded byPaek Nam-sun
Personal details
Born(1928-02-04)February 4, 1928
DiedNovember 3, 2025(2025-11-03) (aged 97)
Pyongyang, North Korea
PartyWorkers' Party of Korea
Alma materTomsk State University
Rostov State University
Signature
Korean name
Hangul
김영남
Hanja
金永南
RRGim Yeongnam
MRKim Yŏngnam

Kim Yong-nam (Korean김영남; February 4, 1928 – November 3, 2025) was a North Korean politician who served as the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, from 1998 until 2019. Due to holding the office, he was considered the head of state of North Korea; the country's constitution was amended once he left office in 2019 to transfer this position to the President of the State Affairs Commission, Kim Jong Un. Previously, he had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1983 to 1998. He was elected a member of the Presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in 2010.