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Former S Korea President Kim dies | Former S Korea President Kim dies |
(9 minutes later) | |
Kim Dae-jung, the former president of South Korea, has died at the age of 83, hospital sources say. | Kim Dae-jung, the former president of South Korea, has died at the age of 83, hospital sources say. |
Mr Kim, who was being treated for pneumonia, was reported to have died after suffering heart failure. | Mr Kim, who was being treated for pneumonia, was reported to have died after suffering heart failure. |
The former leader had spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification with the North. | The former leader had spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification with the North. |
He survived several attempts on his life and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his "Sunshine" policy efforts to improve ties with Pyongyang. | He survived several attempts on his life and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his "Sunshine" policy efforts to improve ties with Pyongyang. |
Mr Kim was declared dead just after 1340 local time (0440 GMT), a spokesman at the Severance hospital in Seoul said. | |
"His heart began failing at 1.35 pm and stopped minutes later despite our efforts to revive it," said the spokesman. | "His heart began failing at 1.35 pm and stopped minutes later despite our efforts to revive it," said the spokesman. |
Spy abduction | |
Mr Kim was branded a dangerous radical during South Korea's decades of military rule. | Mr Kim was branded a dangerous radical during South Korea's decades of military rule. |
He survived several assassination attempts, was sentenced to death, and tortured in jail. He was exiled twice and put under house arrest countless times. | He survived several assassination attempts, was sentenced to death, and tortured in jail. He was exiled twice and put under house arrest countless times. |
He made history when he was elected to the presidency in December 1997 on his fourth attempt - the first peaceful transfer of power from a ruling to an opposition party since the country was founded in 1948. | He made history when he was elected to the presidency in December 1997 on his fourth attempt - the first peaceful transfer of power from a ruling to an opposition party since the country was founded in 1948. |
He remained president until he stepped down in 2003. | He remained president until he stepped down in 2003. |
In 2007 South Korea's spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), admitted abducting Kim in 1973, with tacit backing from then leader Park Chung-hee. | |
The report said there was some evidence to suggest the kidnap was initially planned as an assassination attempt. | The report said there was some evidence to suggest the kidnap was initially planned as an assassination attempt. |