Why is Kim Son-gyong going to New York for the UN General Assembly?

Kim Son-gyong is leading a North Korean delegation to attend the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly. He is scheduled to speak on Monday, the closing day of the General Debate, where member states present their positions on major international issues.

When will Kim Son-gyong speak at the UN General Assembly?

He is set to take the floor Monday, which is the closing day of the General Debate. The delegation left Pyongyang on Tuesday, according to KCNA.

What happened the last time a North Korean official addressed the UN General Assembly from Pyongyang?

Last year, Kim used his address to reiterate Pyongyang’s position that it will never abandon its nuclear weapons. The report says Pyongyang had not sent minister-level officials for six years after the failed 2019 Hanoi summit, with the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. serving instead.

N. Korea's vice FM leaves for New York to attend UN General Assembly

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Summary

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong has departed for New York to attend the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly, state media reported Wednesday. A North Korean delegation led by Kim left Pyongyang on Tuesday, and Kim is set to speak Monday on the closing day of the General Debate. The trip follows a six-year gap in minister-level attendance after the failed 2019 Hanoi summit. Last year, Kim used his U.N. address to repeat Pyongyang’s stance that it will never abandon nuclear weapons.

Key Facts

Kim Son-gyong is scheduled to take the floor Monday, the closing day of the General Debate at the 81st U.N. General Assembly.
KCNA said a North Korean delegation led by Kim left Pyongyang on Tuesday, but it did not disclose details of his itinerary.
Following the failed 2019 Hanoi summit, Pyongyang did not send any minister-level officials to the U.N. General Assembly for six years.
North Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Kim Song served as Pyongyang’s representative during that period.
Former Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong attended the General Assembly in 2014 and 2015, and Ri Yong-ho participated from 2016 to 2018.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 23, 2026 8:33 am KST

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong, center, leaves Pyongyang to attend the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 25, 2025, in this file photo provided by the Korean Central News Agency the next day. Yonhap

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong has departed for New York to attend the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly, state media reported Wednesday.

A North Korean delegation, led by Kim, left Pyongyang on Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, without disclosing details of his itinerary.

Kim is set to take the floor Monday, the closing day of the General Debate, the annual high-level session where U.N. member states lay out their positions on major international issues.

During last year's session, he used his address to reiterate Pyongyang's stance that it will never abandon its nuclear weapons.

Following the failed 2019 Hanoi summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, Pyongyang had not sent any minister-level officials for six years. North Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Kim Song served as its representative instead.

Previously, former North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong attended the U.N. General Assembly from 2014-2015 and his successor, Ri Yong-ho, participated from 2016 to 2018.

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