Seoul: North Korea's former vice president Pak Song-Chol, a close confidant of late president Kim Il-Sung, has died aged 95,official media said today.

Pak, honorary vice president of the presidium of the legislature known as the Supreme People s Assembly (SPA), died yesterday after a long illness, the official news agency KCNA said.

Leader Kim Jong-Il, who was widely reported to have suffered a stroke in mid-August, sent a wreath for Pak s bier today expressing "deep condolences over his death," it said.

The state of Kim Jong-Il s health -- and the question of who might succeed him -- has triggered fierce speculation since he failed to appear at a key anniversary parade in early September.

A state funeral will be held for Pak, KCNA said.

In 1934 Pak joined an anti-Japanese guerrila unit, which was allegedly led by Kim Il-Sung, the North s eternal president, KCNA said.

He served as foreign minister in 1959,premier in 1976 and vice president in 1977. He became honorary vice president of the SPA Presidium, the highest decision-making body of the legislature, in 1998.

Pak had been almost inactive since he attended a military parade in 2002,sparking speculation about his health.
Source : PTI