Former senior DPRK official Kim Yong-nam dies at 97

PYONGYANG -- Kim Yong-nam, former chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), died of illness at the age of 97 on Monday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, visited the bier of Kim Yong-nam at 1:00 am local time on Tuesday (1600 GMT on Monday) to express deep condolences over his death, said the report.

The Central Committee of the WPK, the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and the cabinet of the DPRK decided to hold a state funeral for Kim Yong-nam, it said, adding that the national funeral committee is formed by 100 people, including Kim Jong Un.

The bier of Kim Yong-nam will receive condolences from 9 am to 7 pm local time (0000 to 1000 GMT) on Tuesday, and the funeral will take place at 9 am on Wednesday, the national funeral committee was cited by the KCNA as saying.