Seoul, South Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's "most trustworthy" aide who oversaw ties with the South has died in a traffic accident, Pyongyang's state media said Wednesday, a loss seen as a blow to efforts at reconciliation between the two rivals.
Kim has earned a reputation for ruthlessness after eliminating previous high-ranking officials including his uncle but the announcement of a state funeral for Kim Yang-Gon appears to indicate his death was not part of a fresh purge.
Kim Yang-Gon, who was a secretary of the ruling Workers' Party, "died in a traffic accident at 6:15 am Tuesday at age 73," the Korean Central News Agency said, without giving further details of the incident.
KCNA hailed him as "the dearest and the most trustworthy comrade-in-arms" of current leader Kim Jong-Un, who will head a state funeral for the official on Thursday.
A career diplomat, Kim Yang-Gon played a leading role in realising the 2007 summit between Kim Jong-Il and South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun and was the only North Korean official present at their meeting in Pyongyang.
'Negative impact on relations'
The two sides also vowed to make efforts to promote inter-Korean civilian exchanges.
Kim's death is widely seen as a blow to efforts at dialogue and reconciliation.
"In light of the North's nature, I don't see anyone who can replace him in his role in daring offer policy ideas and advice to the leader in these fields", he said.
Professor Kim Yong-Hyun of Dongguk University said Kim Yang-Gon had an image as a "moderate".
"His death may cause difficulties to keeping up the momentum for dialogue" between the two Koreas, he said.
News of Kim Yang-Gon's death sparked speculation that his sudden demise might be the result of political foul play, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.
Some of the North's most promising party leaders have died in traffic accidents.
Kim Yang-Gon's predecessor Kim Yong-Sun, who helped arrange the landmark summit between South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Jong-Il, also perished in a traffic accident in 2003.
Ri Je-Gang, a top party official in charge of assigning official posts to party members, died in a car crash in 2010 when he was rumoured to be involved in a power struggle with Jang Song-Thaek, the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-Il.
Jang himself survived a car accident in 2006 but was executed in 2013 by his nephew, new leader Kim Jong-Un after being condemned as a "traitor" to the nation.
Yonhap said the partying habits of North Korean elites were also to blame for their disproportionately high rate of fatal traffic accidents, often driving home drunk after exclusive parties.
Kim has earned a reputation for ruthlessness after eliminating previous high-ranking officials including his uncle but the announcement of a state funeral for Kim Yang-Gon appears to indicate his death was not part of a fresh purge.
Kim Yang-Gon, who was a secretary of the ruling Workers' Party, "died in a traffic accident at 6:15 am Tuesday at age 73," the Korean Central News Agency said, without giving further details of the incident.
KCNA hailed him as "the dearest and the most trustworthy comrade-in-arms" of current leader Kim Jong-Un, who will head a state funeral for the official on Thursday.
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A career diplomat, Kim Yang-Gon played a leading role in realising the 2007 summit between Kim Jong-Il and South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun and was the only North Korean official present at their meeting in Pyongyang.
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'Negative impact on relations'
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The two sides also vowed to make efforts to promote inter-Korean civilian exchanges.
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Kim's death is widely seen as a blow to efforts at dialogue and reconciliation.
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"In light of the North's nature, I don't see anyone who can replace him in his role in daring offer policy ideas and advice to the leader in these fields", he said.
Professor Kim Yong-Hyun of Dongguk University said Kim Yang-Gon had an image as a "moderate".
"His death may cause difficulties to keeping up the momentum for dialogue" between the two Koreas, he said.
News of Kim Yang-Gon's death sparked speculation that his sudden demise might be the result of political foul play, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.
Some of the North's most promising party leaders have died in traffic accidents.
Kim Yang-Gon's predecessor Kim Yong-Sun, who helped arrange the landmark summit between South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Jong-Il, also perished in a traffic accident in 2003.
Ri Je-Gang, a top party official in charge of assigning official posts to party members, died in a car crash in 2010 when he was rumoured to be involved in a power struggle with Jang Song-Thaek, the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-Il.
Jang himself survived a car accident in 2006 but was executed in 2013 by his nephew, new leader Kim Jong-Un after being condemned as a "traitor" to the nation.
Yonhap said the partying habits of North Korean elites were also to blame for their disproportionately high rate of fatal traffic accidents, often driving home drunk after exclusive parties.
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