Quick Facts
Biography
Paek Nam-sun (March 13, 1929 – January 2, 2007) was the North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 until his death. He was one of the few North Koreans to frequently be in the international spotlight.
Early years
Paek was born in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province. He graduated from Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang. He first took a position in international affairs in 1968, when he became vice director of the International Affairs Department of the Worker's Party of Korea. He participated in the first round of North-South Red Cross talks in 1972. Thereafter he was ambassador to Poland from 1974 to 1979.
Political career
Paek also served on the Supreme People's Assembly from 1990 until the time of his death, having been elected to the 9th, 10th, and 11th sessions.
Death
Paek died on 2 January 2007 in Pyongyang. North Korean state media attributed the death to an undefined illness although it was said that he suffered from kidney disease. He was the only North Korean foreign minister to have met his American counterpart.
Paek was ill for some time prior to his death and the role was filled by one of his deputies, most notably Kim Kye-gwan.
References and notes
- Yonhap News Agency. "Who's who, North Korea," pp. 787-812 in Yonhap News Agency (2004). Korea Annual 2004. Seoul: Author. ISBN 89-7433-070-9.
- PAEK, Nam-sun International Who's Who. accessed September 1, 2006.
- North Korea's foreign minister dies, Al-Jazeera English, accessed January 3, 2007