Pyongyang, Nov 04 (V7N)- Kim Yong-nam, former head of North Korea’s parliament and a longtime ally of the Kim family, has died at the age of 97. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that he passed away on Monday (November 3) due to multiple organ failure caused by cancer.

Kim Yong-nam served as the head of the Supreme People’s Assembly—North Korea’s parliament—from 1998 to 2019, acting as the country’s formal head of state, while real power remained with the Kim family. He studied at Pyongyang University and Moscow State University.

On Tuesday (November 4) morning, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un visited Kim Yong-nam’s body to pay his respects and offer condolences to his family. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday, November 6.

In 2019, Kim Yong-nam was succeeded by Cho Ryong-hae as head of the parliament due to age.

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