Supreme People's Assembly

Supreme People's Assembly
최고 인민 회의
最高人民會議
Choego Inmin Hoe-ui
13th Supreme People's Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
President of the Presidium
Kim Yong-nam, WPK
Since 5 September 1998
Chairman
Vice Chairman
An Tong-chun
Ri Hye-jong
Structure
Seats 687
Political groups
Committees
  • Credentials Committee
  • Bills Committee
  • Budget Committee
Elections
First-past-the-post[1]
Last election
 9 March 2014
Meeting place
Mansudae Assembly Hall, Pyongyang
 
Chosŏn'gŭl 최고인민회의
Hancha 最高 人民 會議
Revised Romanization Choego Inmin Hoeui
McCune–Reischauer Ch’oego Inmin Hoeŭi
North Korea
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
North Korea
Government

The Supreme People's Assembly (Chosŏn'gŭl: 최고 인민 회의; MR: Ch’oego Inmin Hoeŭi) is the unicameral legislature of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. It consists of one deputy from each of the DPRK's 687 constituencies,[2] elected to five-year terms.[3]

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 2014.

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. Constitutionally granted great lawmaking powers, the Supreme People's Assembly, in practice, functions as a rubber stamp to approve the decisions of the Supreme Leader.[4]

History

Under the 1972 Constitution, the number of seats in the Assembly was 655.[5] This was increased to 687 following the 1986 election.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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 has been president of the Assembly Presidum since 1998.[9] Choe Thae-bok is the Chairman while An Tong-chun and Ri Hye-jong are the Vice-Chairmen.[10]

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".[11] His status as leader was reaffirmed when he was elected unopposed on March 9, 2014. Kim had nominated to represent his district, the symbolic Mount Paekduto, 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.[12]

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.

Elections are ostensibly by secret ballot. However, 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.[13] However, anyone voting against the Front's candidate must do so without any secrecy. In most polling stations the voter must do so with a red pen next to the ballot box in sight of electoral officials. At some polling stations there is a separate ballot box for 'no' votes.[14] Many North Korean defectors cite such an act of defiance as too risky to attempt.[13]

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:[15]

  • Adopting, amending or supplementing enactments to the constitution
  • Determining State policy and budgets[16]
  • Elections of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and members of the State Affairs Commission
  • Election 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

Constitutional amendments require the approval of two-thirds of the deputies.[15]

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.[9]

The Presidium consists of the President, Vice-Presidents, a Secretary-General and other members. The Presidium is elected by the SPA members.[17] The functions of the Presidium are to:

  • Convene sessions of the Supreme People's Assembly[15]
  • Examine and approve new state legislation when the SPA is in recess[15]
  • Supervise the Supreme Procurator's Office when the SPA is not in session[18]
  • Supervise the Central Court when the SPA is in recess[19]
  • Interpret and enact the Constitution and legislation[15]
  • Form or dissolve state ministries[15]
  • Supervise laws of State organs[15]
  • Supervise parliamentary committees[17]
  • Organize elections to the Supreme People's Assembly[15]
  • Ratify treaties with foreign countries[15]
  • Appoint, transfer, or remove officials and judges when the SPA is in recess[15]
  • Grant special pardons or amnesties[15]

In addition to its executive functions, the Presidium also receives credentials of diplomatic representatives from foreign countries.[15]

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.[20] Of these organs, the Presidium is seen as the successor of the Standing Committee.[21]

Presidium members
Position Name Ref
President Kim Yong-nam [10]
Vice President Kim Yong-dae [10]
Vice President Yang Hyong-sop [10]
Honorary Vice President Choe Yong-rim [10]
Honorary Vice President Kim Yong-ju [10]
Secretary General Hong Son-ok [10]
Member Chang Chun-sil [10]
Member Hyon Sang-ju [10]
Member Jon Kyong-nam [10]
Member Jon Yong-nam [10]
Member Ju Yong-gil [10]
Member Kang Myong-chol [10]
Member Kang Su-rin [10]
Member Kim Jong-sun [10]
Member Kim Wan-su [10]
Member Kim Yong-chol [10]
Member Pak Thae-song [10]
Member Pak Myong-chol [10]
Member Ri Myong-gil [10]
Member Thae Jong-su [10]

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 the de jure head of state of North Korea.[20] The President also convenes sessions of the SPA.[21]

The President, like the rest of the Presidium, is elected by the SPA members. The SPA can also remove the President. Kim Yong-nam has held the post since its creation in 1998.[21]

Committees

In addition to the Presidium, the SPA has three parliamentary committees: the Credentials Committee, Bills Committee, and Budget Committee.[22] Before 1998, the tasks of the Presidium was exercised by a Standing Committee and there were two additional committees, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Reunification-policy Deliberation Committee.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/03/economist-explains-2
  2. ↑ "DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui (Supreme People's Assembly)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "DPRK Holds Election of Local and National Assemblies". People's Korea. Archived from the original on 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
  4. ↑ "North Korea - Economy".
  5. ↑ Gorvin, Ian (1989-01-01). Elections since 1945: a worldwide reference compendium. Longman. p. 196. ISBN 9780582036208.
  6. ↑ Publications, Europa; Staff, Europa Publications; 32nd, Ed (2017-04-25). The Far East and Australasia 2001. Taylor & Francis Group. p. 597. ISBN 9781857430806. Archived from the original on 2017-04-26.
  7. ↑ Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments
  8. ↑ "North Korean legislature seen set to name Kim president", CNN, August 20, 1998. Archived March 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. 1 2 Dae-woong, Jin (2007-10-04). "Who's who in North Korea's power elite". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments: Korea, North - NDE". Central Intelligence Agency. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "DPRK revises constitution, elects Kim Jong Un as top leader", 2012-04-14 Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Frank, Ruediger (28 April 2017). "The North Korean Parliamentary Session and Budget Report for 2017". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  13. 1 2 "North Korea votes for new rubber-stamp parliament". Associated Press. 8 March 2009.
  14. ↑ "Foregone result in North Korea's local elections". www.aljazeera.com.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Europa Publications Staff. (2002). The Far East and Australasia 2003. Routledge. pp. 680. ISBN 978-1-85743-133-9
  16. ↑ Frank, Ruediger (8 April 2016). "The 2016 North Korean Budget Report: 12 Observations". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  17. 1 2 "Organizational Chart of North Korean Leadership" (PDF). Seoul: Political and Military Analysis Division, Intelligence and Analysis Bureau; Ministry of Unification. August 2016. p. 2. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  18. ↑ Cha & Hwang 2008, p. 201.
  19. ↑ Minnich 2008, p. 276.
  20. 1 2 Cha & Hwang 2008, p. 196.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Cha & Hwang 2008, p. 198.
  22. ↑ Jeong-Ho Roh (2006). "The Supreme People's Assembly". Contemporary Issues in Business Laws of South and North Korea. Columbia Law School. Retrieved 29 August 2018.

Works cited

  • Cha, Victor D.; Hwang, Balbina Y. (2008). "Government and Politics". In Worden, Robert L. North Korea: A Country Study (PDF) (Fifth ed.). Washington: Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. pp. 187–234. ISBN 978-0-8444-1188-0.
  • Minnich, James M. (2008). "National Security". In Worden, Robert L. North Korea: A Country Study (PDF) (Fifth ed.). Washington: Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. pp. 237–281. ISBN 978-0-8444-1188-0.

Coordinates: 39°01′43″N 125°44′59″E / 39.02861°N 125.74972°E / 39.02861; 125.74972

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