N. Korea leader arrives in Uganda today
Oct 29, 2014
The number two in North Korea’s leadership hierarchy, Kim Yong-nam, is set to arrive in Uganda at 8pm later today, according to sources at State House.
By Moses Walubiri & David Lumu
KAMPALA - The number two in North Korea’s leadership hierarchy, Kim Yong-nam, is set to arrive in Uganda later today at 8pm local time (EAT), according to sources at State House.
Kim Yong-nam is the chairperson of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly (parliament) of North Korea and a member of the politburo that constitutes the central committee of the Workers’ party.
This puts him only behind the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – Kim Jong-un.
“He is arriving at 8pm,” a source at State House who preferred anonymity since he is not authorized to speak on its behalf told New Vision.
A former long serving Minister of Foreign Affairs (1983-1998), Kim Yong-nam is expected to hold talks with President Yoweri Museveni as part of his “good will” visit to a number of African countries.
Kim Yong-nam’s four-day visit in which he is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with Uganda is expected to take the two countries’ bilateral relationship a notch higher.
This will be Kim Yong-nam’s second visit to Uganda. In March 2008, he visited Uganda, Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Earlier, Asuman Kiyingi, the state minister for regional cooperation, had said he was yet to get details about the visit.
In previous foreign policy dealings, North Korean officials visiting Uganda have pledged to provide police training, development of a marine unit and security hardware.
North Korea and Uganda have also been working on how to improve trade ties to expand market for the products of both countries.
true
In June 2013, Museveni held bilateral talks with a North Korean delegation led by the vice minister for People’s Security, Ri Song-chol, at State House in Entebbe.
Ri Song-chol was accompanied by the North Korea Ambassador to Uganda, Jong Thae Yang, the deputy director general of the department of surveillance and investigations, Jong Unj Chol and the deputy director of general external security affairs, Ri Song-hyok.
Subsequently, in July 2013, Vice-President Edward Ssekandi represented Museveni at the 60th celebrations to mark the Korean War Armistice in Pyongyang. The Korean War Armistice is the agreement which ended the Korean War in 1953.
Ssekandi also met Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of North Korea.
The vice president’s visit to Pyongyang signified the close ties that Uganda and North Korea enjoy.
In brief: who is Kim Yong-nam?
- Born on February 4, 1928
- He is the chairman of Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea
- A member of the Workers’ Party of Korea, an exclusive politburo of the Workers’ Party of Korea
- Served as a minister of foreign affairs from 1983 to 1998
- He is considered as the nominal head of state, who executes foreign affairs of North Korea