Kim Yong-nam

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President of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea
Kim Yong-nam
Incumbent
Assumed office 05 September 1998
Prime Minister	Kim Yong-il
Leader	Kim Jong-il
Preceded by	Yang Hyong-sop

Born	4 February 1928 (1928-02-04) (age 83)
Political party	WPK

Not to be confused with Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son of Kim Jong-il.

This is a Korean name; the family name is Kim.

Kim Yong-nam

Chosŏn'gŭl	김영남
Hancha	金永南
McCune-Reischauer	Kim Yŏng-nam
Revised Romanization	Gim Yeong-nam

Kim Yong-nam (born February 4, 1928) is a top North Korean official. He served as foreign minister from 1983 to 1998.

Although he is not de jure head of state of North Korea (as no such office exists), in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, he has the role of accepting the credentials of ambassadors, conducting foreign relations and signing treaties, making him the de facto head of state. He has held this office since September 5, 1998.^[1] Kim represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on all state visits and summits and receives visiting heads of state; he, Premier Kim Yong-il, and Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-il form a tripartite executive, each having powers equal to a third of a president's, controlling foreign relations, government, and defense, respectively.