Kim Yang-gon

Kim Yang-gon
Kim Yang-gon
김양건
	Kim Yang-gon at Closing Ceremony of Incheon Asian Games 2014
Born	24 April 1942; Anju-si, South Pyongan Province, Japanese Korea
Died	29 December 2015 (aged 73); North Korea

Kim Yang-gon (김양건, 24 April 1942 – 29 December 2015) was a North Korean politician and a senior official of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

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 rapprochement 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.^[1]^[2] 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.^[3]

Kim Yang-gon's funeral committee was composed of:^[4]

References

^ "N Korean official in charge of ties with South dies: Pyongyang – Top aide to North Korea leader Kim Jong Un dies in car crash: KCNA". TODAYonline. 30 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ Kim Yang Gon Dies Korean Central News Agency 2015-30-12
^ What the new photos of North Korea's leaders say. BBC News, 13 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
^ "Kim Yang Gon Funeral Committee". North Korea Leadership Watch. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

Party political offices
Preceded by Rim Tong-ok	Director of the United Front Department of the Workers' Party of Korea 2007–2015	Succeeded by Kim Yong-chol

[1] "N Korean official in charge of ties with South dies: Pyongyang – Top aide to North Korea leader Kim Jong Un dies in car crash: KCNA". TODAYonline. 30 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[2] Kim Yang Gon Dies Korean Central News Agency 2015-30-12

[3] What the new photos of North Korea's leaders say. BBC News, 13 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.

[nkle_KimY-4] "Kim Yang Gon Funeral Committee". North Korea Leadership Watch. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

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