▲ Kim Chang-son (R), department director of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, accompanies leader Kim Jong-un (C) on a visit to the venue of the announcement of the New Year's message, in this file image captured from footage from North Korea's state-run TV station on Jan. 1, 2019. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
▲ Kim Chang-son (C), department director of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, looks around the truce village of Panmunjom on June 30, 2019, to prepare for leader Kim Jong-un's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. (Yonhap)

NK official-obituary

Kim Chang-son, close aide of N. Korean leader, dies: KCNA

SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Yonhap) -- Kim Chang-son, who had served as the protocol chief to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has died, according to the North's state media Friday.

The North's leader expressed "deep" condolences over his death and sent a wreath to the bier the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, without saying the cause of his death.

The report said Kim Chang-son had worked in important posts of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the state for a long time under "the special loving care and deep trust of the peerlessly great men."

He "made a distinguished contribution to defending the prestige of our Party and enhancing the external prestige of the country with his steadfast honesty and sincerity," the KCNA said.

Kim Chang-son, known as the de facto chief of staff to Kim Jong-un, served as the protocol chief, notably appearing on the sites of the North Korean leader's summit diplomacy.

In the height of Kim Jong-un's summit diplomacy in 2018-2019, highlighted by summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore and Vietnam, Kim Chang-son visited summit facilities in advance to check his leader's route and schedule.

He also visited South Korea in 2018, when the North's high-level delegation, led by Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un, attended the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

In April 2018, Kim Chang-son served as the North's chief delegate for working-level talks on protocol, security and media to prepare for summit talks between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un.

Under the rule of former leader Kim Jong-il, the late father of the incumbent leader, Kim Chang-son also worked at the office of the secretariat to support the ruler and his family.

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