Native name 김양건 Name Kim Yang-gon | Role Politician | |
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Born 24 April 1942 ( 1942-04-24 ) Anju-si, South Pyongan Province Died December 29, 2015, Pyongyang, North Korea | ||
Background on top n korean official kim yang gon
Kim Yang-gon (24 April 1942 – 29 December 2015) was a North Korean politician and a senior official of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
Contents
- Background on top n korean official kim yang gon
- Kim jong un pays respects to deceased top official kim yang gon
- Early career
- Promotion
- Death
- References
Kim jong un pays respects to deceased top official kim yang gon
Early career
Kim Yang-gon started his political career as a vice-director of the party's International Liaison Department in 1986, and during this time he also oversaw relations with Japan as head of the DPRK-Japan Friendship Association. He was a recipient of the top Order of Kim Il-sung in 1995. He was promoted to director in 1997 and visited China multiple times during his tenure. In 2005 he also received a position as "councilor" to the National Defence Commission.
Promotion
Several months after the death of Rim Tong-ok, Kim Yang-gon, considered a confidant to Kim Jong-il, was appointed to replace him as director of the United Front Department of the Workers' Party in March 2007. His first assignment as head of relations with South Korea was a visit to Seoul in November to discuss reapproachment measures with Unification Minister Lee Jae-jeong. At the Party Conference held in September 2010, Kim was also appointed secretary for united front and South Korea policies of the Secretariat and alternate member of the Politburo.
Kim Yang-gon kept his position under Kim Jong-un, and he was awarded the newly created Order of Kim Jong-il in July 2012. He visited South Korea again in October 2014 to attend the closing ceremony of the 2014 Asian Games with Hwang Pyong-so and Choe Ryong-hae, and in late August 2015 to negotiate a deal to halt military provocations around the Demilitarized Zone.
Death
In December 2015, North Korea's news agency reported that Kim Yang-Gon died in a car accident. He was lying in state in Sojang Club in Pyongyang and honored in a state funeral.
He was replaced in January 2016 by Kim Yong-chol.