A SENIOR North Korean ruling party official and a top aide to leader Kim Jong Un has died in a car accident, the state news agency reported yesterday, the latest dramatic demise in the close circle of deputies to the country’s leader.

    Kim Yang Gon, who was a secretary of the Workers’ Party and the head of its United Front Department, the unit that handles the North’s ties with South Korea, was Kim Jong Un’s “closest comrade, a solid revolutionary partner,” KCNA said.

    Kim was part of a high-level delegation that held talks in August after the rival states exchanged artillery fire, raising tensions to one of its highest points in recent years.

    Those talks produced an agreement that ended the standoff and for the two sides to reopen dialogue to improve ties.

    Kim had grown visibly closer to Kim Jong Un recently, appearing alongside the young leader at various farm and factory inspections and diplomatic meetings.

    He was an experienced adviser with a broad understanding of foreign affairs, according to Michael Madden, an expert on North Korea’s leadership.

    “With regard to South Korean policy, Kim Yang Gon had a very good social network and was a good interlocutor for the North with the South.”

    South Korea expressed condolences in a message from its Unification Minister sent through the Panmunjom truce village on the militarized border, an official said.

    KCNA said Kim died Tuesday in an automobile accident at the age of 73. It gave no details of the accident. North Korea’s road network is badly maintained and car ownership is rare, yet several high-level officials have died in traffic accidents over the years.

    (SD-Agencies)