Former US President Jimmy Carter -- a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and statesman noted for his interest in peace efforts for the Korean Peninsula -- died at his home in Georgia on Sunday, the Carter Center, a nonprofit organization, said. He was 100.
Surrounded by his family, the longest-lived president in US history passed away in the Peach State's countryside town of Plains, according to the center. He had reportedly suffered some health issues, including melanoma, and received hospice care.
"My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love," Chip Carter, the former president's son, was quoted as saying in a release posted on the center's website.
"My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs," he added.
There will be public observances in Atlanta and Washington, followed by a private interment in Plains, Georgia, the center said. The final arrangements for his state funeral are still pending.
Carter, a Democrat, served as the 39th US president from 1977 to 1981. He served in the Georgia State Senate from 1967 to 1971 and as the 76th governor of the Peach State from 1971 to 1975.
In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his long-standing work in pursuit of solutions to world conflicts and promoting democracy and human rights.
Carter is known for his involvement in Korean Peninsula affairs, both during and after his presidency.
While in office, he went through a rough patch with then South Korean President Park Chung-hee as he pushed to deliver on his campaign pledge to withdraw US forces from the peninsula, taking issue with human rights issues under the Park administration.
His push for the troop removal put to the test the South Korea-US alliance forged after the 1950-53 Korean War and cemented in the wake of South Korea's participation in the Vietnam War. But it came to a halt later amid opposition from congressional members, the intelligence community and others.
Carter also forged an image as a peacemaker and a troubleshooter when he visited North Korea in 1994 and met with then leader and national founder Kim Il-sung in the midst of nuclear tensions.
His negotiations led to a landmark nuclear disarmament deal between Pyongyang and Washington, known as the Agreed Framework, though the agreement later fell apart with the outbreak of another nuclear standoff in late 2002.
In 2010, Carter traveled again to North Korea and brought home an American citizen detained in the country.
His wife, Rosalynn Carter, died in November 2023 at 96. He is survived by his children -- Jack, Chip, Jeff and Amy -- 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Carter's death led to an outpouring of condolences from top US officials and politicians, including President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.
Biden said America and the world lost an "extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian."
"With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe," he and first lady Jill Biden said in a statement.
"He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership, and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism."
Trump said that Americans owe Carter a "debt of gratitude."
"The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," he wrote on Truth Social.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken portrayed Carter as having embodied "integrity, compassion and a commitment to advancing the freedom, security, and welfare of others" throughout decades of public service.
"He channeled that spirit in his foreign policy, from negotiating the return of the Panama Canal to its host nation, to developing arms control agreements with the Soviet Union. And he brought it to his every exchange and conversation, from heads of state to ordinary citizens," Blinken said in a statement.
"He understood that the fates of Americans were bound up with those of people in other countries, so he was early to recognize that protecting our shared planet and promoting global public health were vital national security interests."
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Carter's work in brokering the Camp David Accords, a historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, and his advocacy with Habitat for Humanity.
"(Because of the work) the world is a more peaceful place, and more Americans have a place to call home," he wrote on X. "No one can deny that President Carter led an extraordinary life of service to his country." (Yonhap)
