 | |
Pak Song-chol
|
 |
|
One of the closest aides to former North Korean leader Kim Il-sung and member of the Politburo died of a long illness on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. He was 95. Pak Song-chol was one of the key figures behind the North-South Joint Statement of July 4, 1972.
Born in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Pak took part in the independence struggle during the Japanese colonial period, and moved to North Korea with Kim Il-sung after independence. He held important positions such as the commander of the 15th division of the Korean People¡¯s Army, director general of the Ministry of Public Security, ambassador to Bulgaria, foreign minister, member of the central committee of the Workers¡¯ Party and premier. From Dec. 1977, he was the vice-president of North Korea, and from September 1998, he was an honorary vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.
After the Joint Statement between, Pak made a secret visit to Seoul and had met with South Korean president Park Chung-hee on behalf of Kim Yong-ju, head of the central guidance department and the North¡¯s top negotiator.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il sent a wreath to the mortuary, the North Korean media reported. Kim has not appeared in public since receiving brain surgery.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
