Kim Yong-nam

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North Korea
Image:Flag of North Korea.svg This article is part of the series: Politics and government of North Korea

President: Kim Il-sung, deceased Chairman: Kim Jong-il Premier: Pak Pong-ju Supreme People's Assembly President: Kim Yong-nam Political parties Workers' Party of Korea Elections Korean reunification Sub-divisions Human rights Foreign relations Juche Songun
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Kim Yongnam (Korean chosŏn'gŭl: 김영남; hanja: 金永南; McCune-Reischauer: Kim Yŏngnam; revised: Gim Yeongnam , born February 4, 1928) is a top North Korean official.

Although he is not de jure head of state of North Korea (as no such office exists), in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, he has the role of accepting the credentials of ambassadors, conducting foreign relations and signing treaties, making him the de facto head of state. He has held this office since September 5, 1998. Kim represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on all state visits and summits and receives visiting heads of state; he, Premier Pak Pong Ju, and Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong Il form a tripartite executive, each having powers equal to a third of a president's, controlling foreign relations, government, and defense, respectively.