North Korea Foreign Minister Paek dies: KCNA

SEOUL, Jan 3 (Reuters) North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun has died, the North's official media reported today.

Paek, 77, who had served as foreign minister since September 1998, had been ill. His last major appearance on the public stage was at an Asian foreign ministers' meeting in Kuala Lumpur in July.

''Leader Kim Jong-il today sent a wreath to the bier of the late Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun, deputy to the DPRK (North Korea) Supreme People's Assembly, expressing deep condolences over his death,'' the North's official KCNA news agency said.

REUTERS BDP KN1424