State Affairs Commission of North Korea

North Korea
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The State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SAC) is defined by the 2016 constitution as "the highest guiding organ of the material managing organ of matters". Kim Jong-un is the current chairman of the SAC.

History

The National Defence Commission was created in 1972 as per the 1972 Constitution, originally the commission's mandate was to supervise national defence matters within North Korea.

Per the 4th plenary session of the Supreme People's Assembly in June 2016 the National Defence Commission was officially replaced by the State Affairs Commission, with an expanded focus towards other national concerns aside from defence and security.

Today, the state affairs commission serves to fund all branches of the military.

Powers and responsibilities

Article 106 of the Constitution of North Korea states that the State Affairs Commission is "the supreme national guidance organ of state sovereignty". Article 109 of the Constitution states that the SAC’s powers are to:^[1]

• deliberate and decide the work on defense building of the State, including major policies of the State;
• exercise supervision over the fulfillment of the orders of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the decisions and directives of the Commission, and take measures for their fulfillment;
• abrogate decisions and directives of State organs which run counter to the orders of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the decisions and directives of the Commission.

Current composition of the DPRK SAC, as of April 2018

These are the members of the DPRK SAC after the 6th plenary session of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly on 11 April 2018.

• Chairman: Kim Jong-un
• Vice Chairmen:
  • Choe Ryong-hae, WPK Vice Chairman for Organization
  • Pak Pong-ju, Premier
  • Vice Marshal of the KPA Kim Jong-gak, Director of the KPA General Political Bureau
• Members of the Commission:
  • Pak Kwang-ho, WPK Vice Chairman for Propaganda
  • General of the Army Pak Yong-sik, Minister of the People's Armed Forces
  • Ri Su-yong, WPK Vice Chairman for International Relations
  • Thae Jong-su, WPK Vice Chairman for Machine Building
  • Kim Yong-chol, WPK Vice Chairman for United Front Work
  • General of the Army Jong Kyong-thaek, Minister of State Security
  • General of the Army Choe Pu-il, Minister of People's Security
  • Ri Yong-ho, Foreign Minister
  • Ri Ryong-nam, Foreign Trade Minister

See also

• Government of North Korea
• Military of North Korea
• National Defence Commission

References