Kim Yong-nam

Infobox President
name = Kim Yong-nam


imagesize =
order = Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly
leader = Kim Jong-il
primeminister = Kim Yong-il
term_start = September 5, 1998
term_end =
predecessor = Yang Hyong-sop
successor =
birth_date = birth date and age|mf=yes|1928|02|04
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
spouse =
party = WPKInfobox Korean name
title=Korean name
tablewidth=265
color=lavender
context=north
hangul=김영남
hanja=金永南
rr=Gim Yeong-nam
mr=Kim Yŏng-nam

Kim Yong-nam (born February 4, 1928) is a top North Korean official. He has been "de facto" head of state since 1998, and he previously served as foreign minister from 1983 to 1998.

Although he is not "de jure" head of state of North Korea (as no such office exists), in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, he has the role of accepting the credentials of ambassadors, conducting foreign relations and signing treaties, making him the "de facto" head of state. He has held this office since September 5, 1998.cite news | first=Jin | last=Dae-woong | coauthors= | title=Who's who in North Korea's power elite | date=2007-10-04 | publisher= | url =http://www.koreaherald.co.kr:8080/servlet/cms.article.view?tpl=print&sname=National&
| work =The Korea Herald | pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-05 | language = ] Kim represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on all state visits and summits and receives visiting heads of state; in theory he, Premier Kim Yong-il, 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, controlling foreign relations, government, and defense, respectively. In practice, Kim Jong-il is the effective ruler of the country.

Kim embarked on a two-week tour of Mongolia, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Singapore on July 20, 2007. On March 18, 2008, he embarked on a goodwill tour of four African nations. [http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1299950/ "N KOREAN LEADER RETURNS AFTER VISITING FOUR AFRICAN COUNTRIES"] , Yonhap (AsiaPulse via COMTEX), April 2, 2008.] Arriving in Namibia on March 20, he was present for the inauguration of a new presidential residence that was built by North Korea, describing it as a "symbol of friendship" between the two countries; [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20080321150307890C202474 "Namibia, NKorea hail friendship"] , Sapa ("IOL"), March 21, 2008.] 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 March 24, the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he met with President Joseph Kabila on March 26, and Uganda, where he met with President Yoweri Museveni on March 29. He returned to North Korea on April 1. Kim also attended the Beijing Olympics on August 8, 2008.

ee also

*Politics of North Korea
*Government of North Korea

References