Paek Nam-sun ( or ; March 13, 1929 – January 2, 2007) was the North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 until his death. He was one of the few North Koreans to frequently be in the international spotlight. Early life Paek was born in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province. Education Paek graduated from Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang. Career In 1968, Paek became vice director of the International Affairs Department of the Workers' Party of Korea. Paek participated in the first round of North-South Red Cross talks in 1972. In 1974, Paek became the ambassador to Poland until 1979. Paek also served on the Supreme People's Assembly from 1990 until the time of his death, having been elected to the 9th, 10th, and 11th sessions. Personal life His third son Paek Ryong-Chon became the president of the Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 2011. Death Paek died on 2 January 2007 in Pyongyang. North Korean state media attributed the death to an undefined illness although it was said that he suffered from kidney disease. He was the only North Korean foreign minister to have met his American counterpart. Paek was ill for some time prior to his death and the role was filled by one of his deputies, most notably Kim Kye-gwan. See also Politics of North Korea References and notes Yonhap News Agency. "Who's who, North Korea," pp. 787–812 in PAEK, Nam-sun International Who's Who. accessed September 1, 2006. North Korea's foreign minister dies, Al-Jazeera English, accessed January 3, 2007 External links BBC death report NKChosun profile 1929 births 2007 deaths People from Kilju County Workers' Party of Korea politicians Foreign ministers of North Korea Members of the Supreme People's Assembly North Korean diplomats Ambassadors of North Korea to Poland