1. Kim Yong Nam, a long-time diplomat and key figure in North Korean-Japanese relations, passed away on Monday due to multiple organ failure at the age of 97.
2. Throughout his career, he served under all three generations of North Korea's leaders, including as foreign minister from 1983 and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly since 1998.
3. Kim played a significant diplomatic role as North Korea's ceremonial head of state, welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro in 2002 for the first summit between Japan and North Korea and speaking with Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018. Kim Jong Un visited his bier along with senior party and government officials, expressing deep condolences.