Kim Yong-nam
Encyclopedia
Kim Yong-nam is the current North Korea
n Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly
, a position held since 1998. He was elected a member of the presidium of the politburo of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
in 2010.
He was born in the Central District, Heijo (now called Pyongyang
), on February 4, 1928. After graduating from a university, he worked as a teacher at the central party School, vice-department director of the WPK Central Committee, vice-minister of foreign affairs, and first vice-department director, department director and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, vice-premier of the administration council and concurrently minister of Foreign Affairs.
As chairman of the Presidium, he is considered the de facto
head of state
of North Korea. Although he is not de jure
head of state of North Korea (as no such office exists), he has the role of accepting the credentials of ambassadors, conducting foreign relations and signing treaties. He has held this office since 5 September 1998, and he previously served as foreign minister from 1983 to 1998. Kim represents North Korea on all state visits and receives visiting heads of state; in theory he, Premier
Choe Yong-rim
, and Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-il
form a tripartite executive, each having powers equal to a third of a president
's in Presidential systems, controlling foreign relations, government, and defense, respectively. In practice, Kim Jong-il is the effective ruler of the country, and the Chairman of the Presidium is considered a junior position.
of four African nations. Arriving in Namibia on 20 March, he was present for the inauguration of a new presidential residence that was built by North Korea. He also held talks with Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba
and signed an agreement on public health cooperation with Pohamba. He subsequently visited Angola, where he met with President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos
on 24 March the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he met with President Joseph Kabila
on 26 March and Uganda, where he met with President Yoweri Museveni
on 29 March. He returned to North Korea on 1 April.
Kim also attended the Beijing Olympics
on 8 August 2008. On 14 July 2009 Kim Yong-nam met with Vietnamese president
Nguyen Minh Triet on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned Movement
Summit in Egypt.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
, a position held since 1998. He was elected a member of the presidium of the politburo of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
in 2010.
He was born in the Central District, Heijo (now called Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
), on February 4, 1928. After graduating from a university, he worked as a teacher at the central party School, vice-department director of the WPK Central Committee, vice-minister of foreign affairs, and first vice-department director, department director and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, vice-premier of the administration council and concurrently minister of Foreign Affairs.
As chairman of the Presidium, he is considered the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of North Korea. Although he is not de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
head of state of North Korea (as no such office exists), he has the role of accepting the credentials of ambassadors, conducting foreign relations and signing treaties. He has held this office since 5 September 1998, and he previously served as foreign minister from 1983 to 1998. Kim represents North Korea on all state visits and receives visiting heads of state; in theory he, Premier
Premier of North Korea
The Premier of North Korea is the head of government of North Korea.-Functions and history:...
Choe Yong-rim
Choe Yong-rim
Choe Yong-rim is the Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since May 2011 and Workers' Party of Korea central committee presidium member since September 2010., KCNA, 29 September 2010.Choe is described by the New York Times as a "KWP insider" and a...
, and Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
form a tripartite executive, each having powers equal to a third of a president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
's in Presidential systems, controlling foreign relations, government, and defense, respectively. In practice, Kim Jong-il is the effective ruler of the country, and the Chairman of the Presidium is considered a junior position.
Diplomatic activity
Kim embarked on a two-week tour of Mongolia, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Singapore on 20 July 2007. On 18 March 2008, he embarked on a goodwill tourGoodwill tour
A goodwill tour is a term used to indicate a tour by someone or something famous to a series of places, with the purpose of expressing benevolent interest or concern for a group of people or a region, improving or maintaining a relationship between parties, and exhibiting the item or person to...
of four African nations. Arriving in Namibia on 20 March, he was present for the inauguration of a new presidential residence that was built by North Korea. He also held talks with Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba is the second and current President of Namibia. He won the 2004 and 2009 presidential elections overwhelmingly as the candidate of the South West Africa People's Organisation ruling party, taking office in March 2005. He has also been the President of SWAPO since...
and signed an agreement on public health cooperation with Pohamba. He subsequently visited Angola, where he met with President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos
José Eduardo dos Santos
José Eduardo dos Santos is an Angolan politician who has been the second and current President of Angola since 1979. As President, José Eduardo dos Santos is also the commander in chief of the Angolan Armed Forces and president of the MPLA , the party that has been ruling Angola since...
on 24 March the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he met with President Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...
on 26 March and Uganda, where he met with President Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
on 29 March. He returned to North Korea on 1 April.
Kim also attended the Beijing Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
on 8 August 2008. On 14 July 2009 Kim Yong-nam met with Vietnamese president
President of Vietnam
The President of Vietnam is the head of state of Vietnam, although the functions of the President are often ceremonial...
Nguyen Minh Triet on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
Summit in Egypt.
See also
- Politics of North KoreaPolitics of North KoreaThe politics of North Korea take place within a nominally democratic multi-party system within the framework of the official state philosophy, Juche, a concept created by the founder of the North Korean state, Kim Il-sung, and his son and successor as leader, Kim Jong-il. In practice, North Korea...
- Government of North KoreaGovernment of North KoreaThe North Korean government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il....