Kim Yang-gon
김양건
Kim Yang-gon at Closing Ceremony of Incheon Asian Games 2014
Born(1942-04-24)24 April 1942
Anju-si, South Pyongan Province, Japanese Korea
Died29 December 2015(2015-12-29) (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]

  1. Kim Jong-un
  2. Kim Yong-nam
  3. Hwang Pyong-so
  4. Pak Pong-ju
  5. Kim Ki-nam
  6. Choe Ryong-hae
  7. Choe Tae-bok
  8. Pak Yong-sik
  9. Ri Yong-gil
  10. Yang Hyong-sop
  11. Kang Sok-ju
  12. Ri Yong-mu
  13. O Kuk-ryol
  14. Kim Won-hong
  15. Kwak Pom-gi
  16. O Su-yong
  17. Kim Pyong-hae
  18. Choe Pu-il
  19. Ro Tu-chol
  20. Jo Yon-jun
  21. Im Chol-ung
  22. Kim Tok-hun
  23. Kim Yong-jin
  24. Ri Mu-yong
  25. Ri Chol-man
  26. Kim Yong-dae
  27. Ryu Mi-yong
  28. Ri Il-hwan
  29. Ri Man-gon
  30. Kim Man-song
  31. Choe Sang-gon
  32. Ri Yong-rae
  33. Kim Jong-im
  34. Kim Jung-hyop
  35. Hong In-bom
  36. Kim Kyong-ok
  37. Choe Hwi
  38. Ri Pyong-chol
  39. Kim Yong-su
  40. Jon Il-chun
  41. Jong Myong-hak
  42. Kim Hi-taek
  43. Jon Kyong-nam
  44. So Hong-chan
  45. No Kwang-chol
  46. Rim Gwang-il
  47. Jo Nam-jin
  48. Ryom Chol-song
  49. Jo Kyong-chol
  50. Yun Tong-hyon
  51. Kim Hyong-ryong
  52. Kim Yong-chol
  53. O Kum-chol
  54. Tae Jong-su
  55. Kim Su-gil
  56. Pak Tae-song
  57. Kim Nung-o
  58. Jon Sung-hun
  59. Pak Yong-ho
  60. Pak Tae-dok
  61. Kim Jae-ryong
  62. Pak Jong-nam
  63. Ri Sang-won
  64. Kang Yang-mo
  65. Rim Kyong-man
  66. Kim Wan-su
  67. Won Tong-yon
  68. Ri Jong-hyok
  69. Kim Jin-guk
  70. Pak Jin-sik

References

  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.
  4. ↑ "Kim Yang Gon Funeral Committee". North Korea Leadership Watch. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
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