Korea says top official on S. Korea dies in car accident

Kim Yang Gon, a high-ranking North Korean official tasked with easing the fractious relationship with South Korea, has died in an automobile accident, the state-run KCNA news agency said.

As recently as August, the party secretary joined the North Korean delegation at talks with the South that defused a military standoff between the two, which was originally triggered by an explosion of land mines that maimed two South Korean soldiers on the border.

KCNA hailed him as “the dearest and the most trustworthy comrade-in-arms” of Kim Jong-Un, who will preside over the state funeral on Thursday.

Kim was the head of the United Front Department and responsible for dealings with the South.

“In light of the North’s nature, I do not see anyone who can replace him in his part in daring to offer policy thoughts and guidance to the leader in these areas”.

A career diplomat, Kim Yang-Gon played a leading role in arranging the 2007 summit between then-leader Kim Jong-il and South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun.

But following discussions have made little progress in resolving key problems, including reunions for families separated by war as well as the resumption of cross border tours.

Kim Yang-gon, North Korea’s party secretary handling inter-Korean affairs, is reported to have been killed in a vehicle accident on December 29, 2015. The surprise move led to a worsening of ties with North Korea’s allies in Beijing, ratcheting up tensions on the Korean Peninsula and raising questions about the stability of the regime. Similar speculation arose in past years following reported traffic deaths of high-level North Korean officials. Most rapprochement agreements signed after the two summit talks remain stalled or have never been implemented after animosities flared again between the rivals.

September 2006: Jang, the executed uncle of Kim, reportedly survived a vehicle accident, according to South Korean media reports. The spy agency, which has a mixed record on tracking North Korea, said Wednesday it was trying to check details about developments about Choe. “The one who appointed him head of the United Front Department was Kim Jong Il, the father of the current leader”.

One South Korean report claims 70 officials have died since the start of Kim Jong-un’s reign in 2011.