Kim Yong Nam, who served under all three generations of North Korean leaders and was a key diplomatic figure in relations with Japan, died on Monday.
North Korean media reported on Tuesday that Kim died from multiple organ failure at the age of 97.
Kim assumed key posts in the foreign ministry and the ruling party's International Affairs Department under the leadership of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founding father. He served as foreign minister from 1983.
In 1998, he became chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Until his retirement from the post in 2019, Kim played a central diplomatic role as the country's ceremonial head of state under the leadership of both Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un.
He welcomed then Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro when he visited Pyongyang in 2002 for the first-ever summit between Japan and North Korea.
Kim also spoke with then Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018.
Media reports say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Kim's bier along with senior party and government officials at 1 a.m. on Tuesday and expressed deep condolences.

Quiz 1:
Who was the key diplomatic figure in relations with Japan who recently passed away?
A. Kim Jong Un
B. Kim Yong Nam
C. Koizumi Junichiro
D. Abe Shinzo

Quiz 2:
For which position did Kim Yong Nam serve from 1983?
A. Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly
B. Ceremonial head of state under the leadership of both Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un
C. Foreign minister
D. Head of North Korea's International Affairs Department

Quiz 3:
In which year did Kim Yong Nam become chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly?
A. 1975
B. 1980
C. 1998 (Correct Answer)
D. 2019

[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2: C
Quiz 3: C