Kim Ki Nam, the North Korean propaganda chief known for building personality cults around the country’s leaders, has passed away at the age of 94. The news was confirmed by the North’s state media, which reported that current leader Kim Jong Un visited the funeral hall in Pyongyang to pay his respects.
Kim Ki Nam, a former secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party’s central committee, was praised by the Korean Central News Agency for his dedication to defending and strengthening the country’s revolution. He passed away after a year of battling age-related illnesses and organ dysfunctions.
In South Korea, Kim Ki Nam was infamous for his role as the country’s chief propagandist, earning him the nickname “North Korean Goebbels” after Nazi Germany’s propaganda minister. He also played a key role in diplomatic relations, leading a delegation to South Korea in 2009 for the funeral of former President Kim Dae-jung.
As one of the seven senior officials who accompanied the late leader Kim Jong Il’s hearse in 2011, Kim Ki Nam had a significant impact on North Korean politics. He was a professor at Kim Il Sung University and the chief editorial writer of the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper before taking on leadership roles in the ruling Worker’s Party’s propaganda departments.
Kim Ki Nam’s passing marks the end of an era in North Korean propaganda and political history. His legacy will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to the country’s socialist cause and the Kim dynasty.