Paek Nam-sun
Encyclopedia
Paek Nam-sun was the North Korea
n Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 until his death. He was one of the few North Koreans to frequently be in the international spotlight.
, North Hamgyong. He graduated from Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang
. He first took a position in international affairs in 1968, when he became vice director of the International Affairs Department of the Worker's Party of Korea. He participated in the first round of North-South Red Cross talks in 1972. Thereafter he was ambassador to Poland
from 1974 to 1979.
from 1990 until the time of his death, having been elected to the 9th, 10th, and 11th sessions.
. North Korean state media attributed the death to an undefined illness although it was said that he suffered from kidney disease. He was the only North Korean foreign minister to have met his American counterpart.
Paek was ill for some time prior to his death and the role was filled by one of his deputies, most notably Kim Kye-gwan.
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 Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 until his death. He was one of the few North Koreans to frequently be in the international spotlight.
Early years
Paek was born in KilchuKilchu
Kilju, sometimesromanized as Kilchu, is a county in North Hamgyong province, North Korea. The county seat is Kilju Town.-History:The area around Kilju was part of the ancient Goguryeo kingdom, and was long inhabited by various Jurchen tribes. In 1107 it was annexed by Goryeo, who gave it its...
, North Hamgyong. He graduated from Kim Il-sung University in 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...
. He first took a position in international affairs in 1968, when he became vice director of the International Affairs Department of the Worker's Party of Korea. He participated in the first round of North-South Red Cross talks in 1972. Thereafter he was ambassador to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
from 1974 to 1979.
Political career
Paek also served on the Supreme People's AssemblySupreme 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...
from 1990 until the time of his death, having been elected to the 9th, 10th, and 11th sessions.
Death
Paek died on 2 January 2007 in PyongyangPyongyang
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...
. North Korean state media attributed the death to an undefined illness although it was said that he suffered from kidney disease. He was the only North Korean foreign minister to have met his American counterpart.
Paek was ill for some time prior to his death and the role was filled by one of his deputies, most notably Kim Kye-gwan.