North Korea’s Ceremonial Figurehead Kim Yong Nam Dies, Leaving a Legacy of Diplomatic Posturing
At 97, longtime North Korean ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam was laid to rest in a state funeral orchestrated by Kim Jong Un, highlighting the regime’s ongoing use of diplomatic pageantry amid persistent threats to global security.
In Pyongyang, the tightly controlled spectacle surrounding Kim Yong Nam’s state funeral reflects more than just mourning; it underscores the carefully choreographed image that North Korea projects to the world — one crafted by a ruling dynasty that prioritizes propaganda over genuine diplomacy. At age 97, Kim Yong Nam passed away after years serving as the nominal head of state, a role designed to mask where actual power lies: firmly with the Kim family. Is North Korea’s Political Theater Obscuring Real Threats? Kim Yong Nam, although unrelated to the ruling family, was a key player in North Korea's diplomatic theater....
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