Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea. It consists of one deputy from each of the DPRK's 687 constituencies, elected to five-year terms.
The constitution recognizes the Workers' Party as the leading party of the state. The Workers' Party, led by Kim Jong-un, governs the DPRK in a monopoly coalition with the Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party called the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland. Elections are held in five-year intervals, the most recent taking place in 2019.
Although the Supreme People's Assembly is the primary legislative body of the DPRK, it ordinarily delegates authority to the smaller and more powerful Presidium, chosen from among its members.
History
Under the 1972 Constitution, the number of seats in the Assembly was 655. This was increased to 687 following the 1986 election.In 1990, the composition of the SPA was 601 seats held by the Workers' Party of Korea, 51 seats held by the Korean Social Democratic Party, 22 seats held by the Chondoist Chongu Party and 13 seats held by independents.
The last convention during Kim Il-sung's government took place in April 1994, three months before his death. Then during the mourning period the assembly did not meet, nor did elections take place. The next meeting convened in September 1998, four years after Kim's death.
Kim Jong-il did not make a speech at the first session of the 10th SPA in 1998. Instead, members listened to a tape-recorded speech of the late Kim Il Sung, which was made at the first session of the 9th SPA, in 1991. The enhanced status of the Korean People's Army was anticipated by the SPA election July 1998, when 101 military officials were elected out of 687 delegates. This was a large increase from the 57 military officials elected during the 9th SPA in 1990.
Kim Yong-nam served as president of the Assembly Presidum from 1998 until 2019. Pak Thae-song is the Chairman, while Pak Chol-min and Pak Kum-hui are the Vice-Chairmen.
On April 14, 2012, during the fifth session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly Kim Jong Un was elected as the country's supreme leader. Addressing the SPA session, Kim Yong-nam, president of the SPA Presidium, said Kim's accession to the DPRK's top post reflected "the ardent desire and unanimous will of all the party members, servicepersons and other people". His status as leader was reaffirmed when he was elected unopposed on March 9, 2014. Kim was nominated to represent his district, the symbolic Mount Paekdu, in the assembly election. Voters could vote yes or no, with all voting in the affirmative, according to government officials.
In 2017, the assembly created a subordinate Diplomatic Commission. This may be useful for international dialogue with other parliaments, while other diplomatic channels are blocked. On 11 April 2019, Choe Ryong-hae was appointed President of the Presidium.
Elections and membership
Under the Constitution of North Korea, all citizens 17 and older, regardless of party affiliation, political views, or religion, are eligible to be elected to the legislature and vote in elections.All candidates are selected by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland in mass meetings held to decide which candidates will be nominated and their names can only go on the ballot paper with the approval of the meeting. The Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland is a popular front dominated by the Korean Worker's Party, in which almost all power rests. The other participants in the coalition include the two other de facto legal political parties, the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party, as well as various other member organizations including social groups and youth groups, such as the Korean section of the Pioneer movement, the Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League, the Korean Democratic Women's League, and the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Only one candidate who has been selected by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland appears on the ballot. A voter may cross off the candidate's name to vote against them, but must do so with a red pen in front of the election officials. The voter must then drop his or her ballot into a separate box for "no" votes. Voting against a Democratic Front candidate is considered an act of treason, and those who do, face the loss of their jobs and housing, along with extra surveillance.
Functions
According to the Constitution of North Korea, it is the highest organ of state power in the country. The Assembly is convened once or twice a year in regular sessions of several days each. At all other times, the Presidium acts for the Assembly. Extraordinary sessions of the Assembly can also meet when called by the Presidium or by one third of the Assembly deputies.The functions of the SPA are:
- Adopting, amending or supplementing enactments to the constitution;
- enact, amend and supplement statutory laws
- approve major statutory laws adopted by the SPA Presidium while the SPA is in recess
- establish the basic principles of the state's domestic and foreign policies
- Determining State policy and budgets;
- Elections of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and members of the State Affairs Commission;
- Elections of the President and other members of the Presidium;
- Elections of legal officials;
- Appointing the Premier, Deputy Premiers and other members of the Cabinet;
- Receiving reports and adopting measures on the Cabinet.
- Elect or recall the director of the Central Court
- Elect or recall the director of the Central General Prosecutor's Office
Presidium
The Presidium exercises legislative power when the SPA is in recess, which occurs during all but a few days of every year. For all intents and purposes, it is the highest organ of state power in North Korea.The Presidium consists of the President, Vice-Presidents, a Secretary-General and other members. The Presidium is elected by the SPA members. The Secretary-General, a largely symbolic role, is currently Jong Yong-guk. The functions of the Presidium are to:
- Convene sessions of the Supreme People's Assembly;
- Examine and approve new state legislation when the SPA is in recess;
- Supervise the when the SPA is not in session;
- Supervise the Central Court when the SPA is in recess;
- Interpret and enact the Constitution and most legislation passed, with the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission now having the power to enact important laws;
- Form or dissolve state ministries;
- Supervise laws of State organs;
- Supervise parliamentary committees;
- Organize elections to the Supreme People's Assembly;
- Ratify treaties with foreign countries;
- Appoint, transfer, or remove officials and judges when the SPA is in recess;
- Grant special pardons or amnesties.
Many of the powers of the Presidium derive from the 1998 constitutional amendment which abolished the posts of the President of North Korea, Central People's Committee, and Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly and gave their powers to the Presidium. Of these organs, the Presidium is seen as the successor of the Standing Committee.
| Position | Name | |
| President | Choe Ryong-hae | |
| Vice President | Pak Yong-il | |
| Vice President | Thae Hyong-chol | |
| Secretary General | Jong Yong-guk | |
| Member | Kim Yong-chol | |
| Member | Ju Yong-gil | |
| Member | Kim Chang-yop | |
| Member | Chang Chun-sil | |
| Member | Kang Myong-chol | |
| Member | Kang Su-rin | |
| Member | Pak Myong-chol | |
| Member | Kim Nung-o | |
| Member | Kang Ji-yong | |
| Member | Ri Myong-gil | |
| Member | Ri Chol |
President
According to the 1998 Constitution, the Presidium and the President of the Presidium succeed the Assembly's Standing Committee and the Chairman of the Standing Committee. Prior to the creation of the post of President of the DPRK in 1972, the Chairman of the Standing Committee was the country's de jure head of state. Currently, the Chairman of the Assembly is the SPA speaker, while the President of the Presidium performs representative functions ordinarily accorded to a head of state. As the representative of the state in external matters and the head of the highest sovereign organ, the President of the Presidium is often considered the de facto head of state of North Korea. The President also convenes sessions of the SPA.The President, like the rest of the Presidium, is elected by the SPA members. The SPA can also remove the President. Kim Yong-nam held the post from its creation in 1998 until 2019, when he was replaced by Choe Ryong-hae.