Kim Yang-gon

Kim Yang-gon (, 24 April 1942 – 29 December 2015) was a North Korean politician and a senior official of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

Early career Kim Yang-gon started his political career as a vice-director of the party's International Liaison Department in 1986, and during this time he also oversaw relations with Japan as head of the DPRK-Japan Friendship Association. He was a recipient of the top Order of Kim Il Sung in 1995. He was promoted to director in 1997 and visited China multiple times during his tenure. In 2005 he also received a position as "councilor" to the National Defence Commission.

Promotion Several months after the death of Rim Tong-ok, Kim Yang-gon, considered a confidant to Kim Jong Il, was appointed to replace him as director of the United Front Department of the Workers' Party in March 2007. His first assignment as head of relations with South Korea was a visit to Seoul in November to discuss rapprochement measures with Unification Minister Lee Jae-jeong. At the Party Conference held in September 2010, Kim was also appointed secretary for united front and South Korea policies of the Secretariat and alternate member of the Politburo.

Kim Yang-gon kept his position under Kim Jong Un, and he was awarded the newly created Order of Kim Jong Il in July 2012. He visited South Korea again in October 2014 to attend the closing ceremony of the 2014 Asian Games with Hwang Pyong-so and Choe Ryong-hae, and in late August 2015 to negotiate a deal to halt military provocations around the Demilitarized Zone.

Death In December 2015, North Korea's news agency reported that Kim Yang-gon died in a car accident. He was lying in state in Sojang Club in Pyongyang and honored in a state funeral.

He was replaced in January 2016 by Kim Yong-chol.

Kim Yang-gon's funeral committee was composed of:

Kim Jong Un Kim Yong-nam Hwang Pyong-so Pak Pong-ju Kim Ki-nam Choe Ryong-hae Choe Tae-bok Pak Yong-sik Ri Yong-gil Yang Hyong-sop Kang Sok-ju Ri Yong-mu O Kuk-ryol Kim Won-hong Kwak Pom-gi O Su-yong Kim Pyong-hae Choe Pu-il Ro Tu-chol Jo Yon-jun Im Chol-ung Kim Tok-hun Kim Yong-jin Ri Mu-yong Ri Chol-man Kim Yong-dae Ryu Mi-yong Ri Il-hwan Ri Man-gon Kim Man-song Choe Sang-gon Ri Yong-rae Kim Jong-im Kim Jung-hyop Hong In-bom Kim Kyong-ok Choe Hwi Ri Pyong-chol Kim Yong-su Jon Il-chun Jong Myong-hak Kim Hi-taek Jon Kyong-nam So Hong-chan No Kwang-chol Rim Gwang-il Jo Nam-jin Ryom Chol-song Jo Kyong-chol Yun Tong-hyon Kim Hyong-ryong Kim Yong-chol O Kum-chol Tae Jong-su Kim Su-gil Pak Tae-song Kim Nung-o Jon Sung-hun Pak Yong-ho Pak Tae-dok Kim Jae-ryong Pak Jong-nam Ri Sang-won Kang Yang-mo Rim Kyong-man Kim Wan-su Won Tong-yon Ri Jong-hyok Kim Jin-guk Pak Jin-sik