Kim Yong-nam (Korean: 김영남; February 4, 1928 – November 3, 2025) was a North Korean politician who served as the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, from 1998 until 2019. Due to holding the office, he was considered the head of state of North Korea; the country's constitution was amended once he left office in 2019 to transfer this position to the President of the State Affairs Commission, Kim Jong Un. Previously, he had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1983 to 1998. He was elected a member of the Presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in 2010.
Infobox
Leader
Kim Jong Il Kim Jong Un
Preceded by
Ho Dam
Succeeded by
Paek Nam-sun
Premier
Hong Song-nam Kang Song-san Yon Hyong-muk Ri Kun-mo Kang Song-san Ri Jong-ok
Born
(1928-02-04)February 4, 1928 Heijō, Korea, Empire of Japan
Died
November 3, 2025(2025-11-03) (aged 97) Pyongyang, North Korea
Party
Workers' Party of Korea
Alma mater
Tomsk State University Rostov State University
Hangul
김영남
Hanja
金永南
RR
Gim Yeongnam
MR
Kim Yŏngnam
Tables
· List of international trips
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
3–7 June 1999
3–7 June 1999
Date
3–7 June 1999
Country
China
Location
Beijing
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Purpose of Visit
Official goodwill visit
Notes
At the invitation of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the State Council.
7–21 April 1999
7–21 April 1999
Date
7–21 April 1999
Country
Cuba
Location
Havana
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Participated in the south summit and met with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
11–14 July 2001
11–14 July 2001
Date
11–14 July 2001
Country
Vietnam
Location
Hanoi
Purpose of Visit
Official goodwill visit
Notes
Met with Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong.
15–17 July 2001
15–17 July 2001
Date
15–17 July 2001
Country
Laos
Location
Vientiane
Purpose of Visit
Official goodwill visit
Notes
Met with Laotian President Khamtay Siphandone.
17–20 July 2001
17–20 July 2001
Date
17–20 July 2001
Country
Cambodia
Location
Phnom Penh
Purpose of Visit
Official goodwill visit
Notes
Met with King Norodom Sihanouk.
28 February–3 March 2002
28 February–3 March 2002
Date
28 February–3 March 2002
Country
Thailand
Location
Bangkok
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
4–6 March 2002
4–6 March 2002
Date
4–6 March 2002
Country
Malaysia
Location
Kuala Lumpur
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
10–12 July 2002
10–12 July 2002
Date
10–12 July 2002
Country
Indonesia
Location
Jakarta
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Met with President Megawati Sukarnoputri to strengthen bilateral ties.
13–16 July 2002
13–16 July 2002
Date
13–16 July 2002
Country
Libya
Location
Tarabulus
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
17–19 July 2002
17–19 July 2002
Date
17–19 July 2002
Country
Syria
Location
Damascus
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
19–21 October 2004
19–21 October 2004
Date
19–21 October 2004
Country
China
Location
Beijing
Tianjin
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
April 2005
April 2005
Date
April 2005
Country
Indonesia
Location
Bandung
Purpose of Visit
Asian-African Summit
Notes
Attended the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.
20–23 July 2007
20–23 July 2007
Date
20–23 July 2007
Country
Mongolia
Location
Ulaanbaatar
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Part of a multi-nation tour including Russia and several African nations.
July 2007
July 2007
Date
July 2007
Country
Russia
Location
Moscow
24–26 July 2007
24–26 July 2007
Date
24–26 July 2007
Country
Algeria
Location
Algiers
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Discussed economic cooperation.
July 2007
July 2007
Date
July 2007
Country
Egypt
Location
Cairo
Purpose of Visit
State visit
Notes
Met with Egyptian officials to maintain long-standing diplomatic relations.
27 July–1 August 2007
27 July–1 August 2007
Date
27 July–1 August 2007
Country
Ethiopia
Location
Addis Ababa
August 2007
August 2007
Date
August 2007
Country
Singapore
Location
Singapore
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Focused on economic development models.
March 2008
March 2008
Date
March 2008
Country
Namibia
Location
Windhoek
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Attended the opening of the new Presidential Palace (built by North Korea).
March 2008
March 2008
Date
March 2008
Country
Angola
Location
Luanda
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Met with President José Eduardo dos Santos.
March 2008
March 2008
Date
March 2008
Country
DR Congo
Location
Kinshasa
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Met with President Joseph Kabila.
March 2008
March 2008
Date
March 2008
Country
Uganda
Location
Kampala
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Met with President Yoweri Museveni.
August 2008
August 2008
Date
August 2008
Country
China
Location
Beijing
Purpose of Visit
2008 Summer Olympics
Notes
Attended the opening ceremony.
May 2009
May 2009
Date
May 2009
Country
South Africa
Location
Johannesburg
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
May 2009
May 2009
Date
May 2009
Country
Zimbabwe
Location
Harare
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
July 2009
July 2009
Date
July 2009
Country
Egypt
Location
Sharm el-Sheikh
Purpose of Visit
15th NAM Summit
Notes
Represented North Korea at the Non-Aligned Movement summit.
March 2010
March 2010
Date
March 2010
Country
Gabon
Location
Libreville
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
April 2010
April 2010
Date
April 2010
Country
Gambia
Location
Dakar
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
April 2010
April 2010
Date
April 2010
Country
Senegal
Location
Dakar
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
May 2010
May 2010
Date
May 2010
Country
China
Location
Shanghai
Purpose of Visit
Shanghai World Expo
December 2011
December 2011
Date
December 2011
Country
Tanzania
Location
Dar-Es-Salaam
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
May 2012
May 2012
Date
May 2012
Country
Singapore
Location
Singapore
May 2012
May 2012
Date
May 2012
Country
Indonesia
Location
Jakarta
Purpose of Visit
State visit
Notes
Official visit to strengthen "traditional" friendship.
August 2012
August 2012
Date
August 2012
Country
Vietnam
Location
Hanoi
August 2012
August 2012
Date
August 2012
Country
Laos
Location
Vientiane
August 2012
August 2012
Date
August 2012
Country
Iran
Location
Tehran
Purpose of Visit
16th NAM Summit
Notes
Signed a cooperation agreement on science and technology.
August 2013
August 2013
Date
August 2013
Country
China
Location
Beijing
Purpose of Visit
Transit
Notes
Stopped by China while en route to Iran.
August 2013
August 2013
Date
August 2013
Country
Iran
Location
Tehran
Purpose of Visit
Official visit
Notes
Attended the first inauguration of Hassan Rouhani
February 2014
February 2014
Date
February 2014
Country
Russia
Location
Sochi
Purpose of Visit
2014 Winter Olympics
Notes
Attended the opening ceremony and met with Vladimir Putin.
October 2014
October 2014
Date
October 2014
Country
Sudan
Location
Khartoum
October 2014
October 2014
Date
October 2014
Country
Congo
Location
Brazzaville
October 2014
October 2014
Date
October 2014
Country
Uganda
Location
Kampala
May 2015
May 2015
Date
May 2015
Country
Russia
Location
Moscow
Purpose of Visit
Victory Day Parade
Notes
Represented the DPRK at the 70th anniversary of WWII victory.
August 2015
August 2015
Date
August 2015
Country
Egypt
Location
Cairo
May 2016
May 2016
Date
May 2016
Country
Equatorial Guinea
Location
Malabo
September 2016
September 2016
Date
September 2016
Country
Venezuela
Location
Isla Margarita
Purpose of Visit
17th NAM Summit
Notes
Met with President Nicolás Maduro.
August 2017
August 2017
Date
August 2017
Country
Iran
Location
Tehran
Purpose of Visit
Presidential Inauguration
Notes
Attended the second inauguration of Hassan Rouhani.
February 2018
February 2018
Date
February 2018
Country
South Korea
Location
Pyeongchang
Purpose of Visit
2018 Winter Olympics
Notes
Led the high-level delegation; first nominal head of state to visit the South.
June 2018
June 2018
Date
June 2018
Country
Russia
Location
Moscow
Purpose of Visit
2018 FIFA World Cup
Notes
Attended the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
November 2018
November 2018
Date
November 2018
Country
Cuba
Location
Havana
Purpose of Visit
State visit
Notes
Met with President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
November 2018
November 2018
Date
November 2018
Country
Venezuela
Location
Caracas
Purpose of Visit
State visit
Notes
Strengthened ties with the Maduro administration.
December 2018
December 2018
Date
December 2018
Country
Mexico
Location
Mexico City
Purpose of Visit
Presidential Inauguration
Notes
Attended the inauguration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Ranked list
Date
Country
Location
Purpose of Visit
Notes
3–7 June 1999
China
Beijing Hangzhou Shanghai
Official goodwill visit
At the invitation of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the State Council.
7–21 April 1999
Cuba
Havana
Official visit
Participated in the south summit and met with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
11–14 July 2001
Vietnam
Hanoi
Official goodwill visit
Met with Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong.
15–17 July 2001
Laos
Vientiane
Official goodwill visit
Met with Laotian President Khamtay Siphandone.
17–20 July 2001
Cambodia
Phnom Penh
Official goodwill visit
Met with King Norodom Sihanouk.
28 February–3 March 2002
Thailand
Bangkok
Official visit
4–6 March 2002
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Official visit
10–12 July 2002
Indonesia
Jakarta
Official visit
Met with President Megawati Sukarnoputri to strengthen bilateral ties.
13–16 July 2002
Libya
Tarabulus
Official visit
17–19 July 2002
Syria
Damascus
Official visit
19–21 October 2004
China
Beijing Tianjin
Official visit
April 2005
Indonesia
Bandung
Asian-African Summit
Attended the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.
20–23 July 2007
Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar
Official visit
Part of a multi-nation tour including Russia and several African nations.
July 2007
Russia
Moscow
24–26 July 2007
Algeria
Algiers
Official visit
Discussed economic cooperation.
July 2007
Egypt
Cairo
State visit
Met with Egyptian officials to maintain long-standing diplomatic relations.
27 July–1 August 2007
Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
August 2007
Singapore
Singapore
Official visit
Focused on economic development models.
March 2008
Namibia
Windhoek
Official visit
Attended the opening of the new Presidential Palace (built by North Korea).
March 2008
Angola
Luanda
Official visit
Met with President José Eduardo dos Santos.
March 2008
DR Congo
Kinshasa
Official visit
Met with President Joseph Kabila.
March 2008
Uganda
Kampala
Official visit
Met with President Yoweri Museveni.
August 2008
China
Beijing
2008 Summer Olympics
Attended the opening ceremony.
May 2009
South Africa
Johannesburg
Official visit
May 2009
Zimbabwe
Harare
Official visit
July 2009
Egypt
Sharm el-Sheikh
15th NAM Summit
Represented North Korea at the Non-Aligned Movement summit.
March 2010
Gabon
Libreville
Official visit
April 2010
Gambia
Dakar
Official visit
April 2010
Senegal
Dakar
Official visit
May 2010
China
Shanghai
Shanghai World Expo
December 2011
Tanzania
Dar-Es-Salaam
Official visit
May 2012
Singapore
Singapore
May 2012
Indonesia
Jakarta
State visit
Official visit to strengthen "traditional" friendship.
August 2012
Vietnam
Hanoi
August 2012
Laos
Vientiane
August 2012
Iran
Tehran
16th NAM Summit
Signed a cooperation agreement on science and technology.
August 2013
China
Beijing
Transit
Stopped by China while en route to Iran.
August 2013
Iran
Tehran
Official visit
Attended the first inauguration of Hassan Rouhani
February 2014
Russia
Sochi
2014 Winter Olympics
Attended the opening ceremony and met with Vladimir Putin.
October 2014
Sudan
Khartoum
October 2014
Congo
Brazzaville
October 2014
Uganda
Kampala
May 2015
Russia
Moscow
Victory Day Parade
Represented the DPRK at the 70th anniversary of WWII victory.
August 2015
Egypt
Cairo
May 2016
Equatorial Guinea
Malabo
September 2016
Venezuela
Isla Margarita
17th NAM Summit
Met with President Nicolás Maduro.
August 2017
Iran
Tehran
Presidential Inauguration
Attended the second inauguration of Hassan Rouhani.
February 2018
South Korea
Pyeongchang
2018 Winter Olympics
Led the high-level delegation; first nominal head of state to visit the South.
June 2018
Russia
Moscow
2018 FIFA World Cup
Attended the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
· External links
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Preceded byHo Dam
Preceded byHo Dam
Political offices
Preceded byHo Dam
Political offices
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1983–1998
Political offices
Succeeded byPaek Nam-sun
Preceded byYang Hyong-sop
Preceded byYang Hyong-sop
Political offices
Preceded byYang Hyong-sop
Political offices
President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly
1998–2019
Political offices
Succeeded byChoe Ryong-hae
Ranked list
Political offices
Preceded byHo Dam
Minister of Foreign Affairs 1983–1998
Succeeded byPaek Nam-sun
Preceded byYang Hyong-sop
President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly 1998–2019
