Seoul: South Korea has expressed condolences following the death of Kim Yong Nam, the former titular head of North Korea.

According to Anadolu Agency, South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young conveyed his sympathies, acknowledging Kim's role in fostering inter-Korean relations through a public statement.

Chung Dong-young highlighted Kim Yong Nam's contributions to the development of relations between the two Koreas. He recalled two significant meetings in Pyongyang, where he discussed peace and the advancement of inter-Korean relations with Kim in 2005 and 2018.

Kim Yong Nam passed away from multiple organ failure after being treated for cancer since last June. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also paid respects to Kim Yong Nam on Tuesday, visiting his bier with senior officials from the Workers' Party of Korea and the government, as reported by Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency.

Additionally, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning extended condolences, recognizing Kim Yong Nam as "an old friend of the Chinese people." She praised his efforts in enhancing the traditional friendly cooperative relations between China and North Korea during his visits, as reported by the state-run Global Times.