SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - North Korea's former perennial nominal head of state, Kim Yong-nam, has died at the age of 97, state media reported on Tuesday.
The state-run [North] Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said leader Kim Jong-un, accompanied by premier Pak Tae-song and other top officials, visited a memorial altar in the small hours and expressed "deep condolences over his death."
According to the KCNA, the nonagenarian, who had served under the hereditary dynasty from founder Kim Il-sung through his son Kim Jong-il to his grandson and current leader, died the previous day from multiple organ failure caused by complications of cancer-related acute poisoning.
Kim, who is no relation to the ruling Kim family, held the ponderous title of "president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly" from 1998, maintaining his position as the titular head through leadership changes without facing demotion or political purges while playing a key role in foreign affairs until his retirement in 2019.
The funeral is scheduled to be held as a state event later in the day.
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