Kim family’s master propagandist dies at 94
North Korea’s former propaganda chief, Kim Ki Nam, has passed away at the age of 94, according to state media reports. KCNA mentioned that he died of old age and “multiple organ dysfunction,” a condition he had been receiving treatment for since 2022. Kim Ki Nam was instrumental in leading propaganda efforts in North Korea, including cultivating a personality cult around the ruling Kim dynasty.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended Kim Ki Nam’s funeral early Wednesday and praised him as a “veteran revolutionary” who remained unwaveringly loyal to the regime, as per the report. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency drew comparisons between Kim Ki Nam and Joseph Goebbels, the infamous propaganda chief of Nazi Germany.
- Russia shuts down UN watchdog tracking North Korea sanctions
- North Korea fires cruise missiles off east coast, Seoul reports
Despite sharing the same family name, Kim Ki Nam had no familial ties to North Korea’s ruling patriarchy. He began his career as the deputy director of Pyongyang’s Propaganda and Agitation Department in 1966, where he collaborated closely with Kim Jong Il, the predecessor of current leader Kim Jong Un.
Over time, Kim Ki Nam ascended to lead the department, significantly shaping the country’s messaging under the world’s longest-running family dynasty. Reports suggest he shared a close relationship with Kim Jong Il, with some media outlets even dubbing them as “drinking buddies.”
@phoenixtvnews North Korea’s ex-propaganda chief Kim Ki Nam died at the age of 94, Kim Joon Un attended the funeral on Wednesday morning. #korea #northkorea #figure #worldnews #kimjongun