Top aide to Kim Yong Un killed in car crash in N Korea
North Korea’s state news agency says a top aide to the leader, Kim Yang Gon, has been killed in a car crash. KCNA described him as Kim Yong Un’s “closest comrade, a solid revolutionary partner”.
The 73-year-old was head of relations between North and South Korea and a secretary of the Workers’ Party.
His death comes at a time when his relationship with Kim Yong Un appeared to be strengthening, on the back of successful talks he steered with the South in August that led to a resumption of dialogue.
South Korea expressed condolences in a message from its Unification Minister.
The positions of those close to the top in North Korea are notoriously precarious. Several leading figures are thought to have died in car crashes that were suspicious.
Car ownership is also extremely rare, and party officials’ vehicles are subject to the strictest security. Against that has to be weighed the awfulness of many of North Korea’s roads.
The 73-year-old was head of relations between North and South Korea and a secretary of the Workers’ Party.
His death comes at a time when his relationship with Kim Yong Un appeared to be strengthening, on the back of successful talks he steered with the South in August that led to a resumption of dialogue.
South Korea expressed condolences in a message from its Unification Minister.
The positions of those close to the top in North Korea are notoriously precarious. Several leading figures are thought to have died in car crashes that were suspicious.
Car ownership is also extremely rare, and party officials’ vehicles are subject to the strictest security. Against that has to be weighed the awfulness of many of North Korea’s roads.
Category
🗞
News