December 30, 2015•Update: December 30, 2015
By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
Pyongyang's policy towards South Korea appeared uncertain Wednesday, after North Korea reported the death of a prominent figure in relations with Seoul.
State media claimed that 73-year-old Kim Yang-gon had been killed in a traffic accident the previous day.
The South's government wasted little time in expressing condolences, according to a unification ministry spokesperson who highlighted Kim's contribution to a landmark bilateral cooperation deal in August.
As head of the so-called United Front Department within North Korea's Workers' Party, Kim played a key role in ties with Seoul -- including the last summit between the two sides' leaders in 2007.
He had also been among the North's delegation that sprung a surprise by attending last year's Asian Games closing ceremony in South Korea.
It appeared that Kim's death was indeed accidental, despite North Korea's notorious habit of purging high-ranking officials.
State news agency the KCNA referred to him as "the closest comrade-in-arms" of leader Kim Jong-un, who was to oversee a state funeral Thursday.
With analysts questioning whether the North's attitude towards South Korea would become even more unpredictable, Seoul refused to comment on the matter.
High-level inter-Korean talks collapsed earlier this month, representing another test for Seoul and Pyongyang in a series of challenges since the Korean War reached a ceasefire in 1953.
