The government of South Korea has expressed condolences over the death of former Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong Nam, who died at the age of 97 after battling cancer. Minister of Unification Jung Dong-yeong said in a statement to the press on behalf of the government: "I express condolences over the death of Mr. Kim, who contributed to the development of inter-Korean relations." Jung mentioned Kim's visit to South Korea in 2018, where he led the North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, noting that the visit helped open dialogue between the two Koreas at the time. The minister also said that he met with Kim twice in Pyongyang.
