Name   Kim Yong-nam Sex   Male Date of Birth   February 4, 1928 Place of Birth   Pyongyang Posts Held Cadre of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party, councilor of the committee’s political bureau, member and president of the 11th Supreme People’s Assembly Claim to Fame Diplomat Education Kim Il Sung University, bachelor’s in international studies from Moscow State University Profile Kim Yong-nam is a diplomat turned politician and the president of the North’s parliament. After graduating from Moscow State University, Kim returned to his country and began working for the international relations bureau of the Korean Workers’ Party. In 1972, he was promoted to first deputy chief of the bureau and later to chief. In 1975, the party’s Central Committee named him secretary for foreign affairs. Moving to the State Administration Council in 1983, he served as foreign minister for 15 years before taking over parliament. Fluent in Russian and English, Kim is known for his strong leadership and keen diplomatic sense. Sources say he acts gentlemanly and even-tempered, but also say he is a staunch fundamentalist. He showed his political prowess in famous purges of political opponents in 1956 and 1967. In the mid-1970s, he also helped bring down high-ranking official Kim Tong-kyu, who opposed Kim Jong-il as heir to the throne. In 1998, Kim Yong-nam gained Kim Jong-il’s trust by making a speech to the Supreme People’s Assembly supporting the heir apparent as chairman of the National Defense Commission. The Supreme People’s Assembly has emerged as the key government body in the North after the 1998 revision of the country’s socialist constitution. As parliamentary president, Kim Yong-nam attends all functions involving the highest-ranking officials. He is also the ceremonial head of state when the North receives credentials from ambassadors in Pyongyang, exchanges congratulatory messages with other nations and accepts visiting delegations from foreign governments. In 2000, Kim took part in the Developing Nations Summit in Cuba as head of state.

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