Politics of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 조선민주주의인민공화국의 정치 (Korean) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| System | Unitary one-party socialist republic |
| Constitution | Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| Leading force of state and society | |
| Party | Workers' Party of Korea |
| General Secretary | Kim Jong Un |
| Supreme organ | Congress |
| Highest organ | Central Committee |
| Political organ | Politburo |
| Executive organ | Secretariat |
| Military organ | Central Military Commission |
| Auditing organ | Central Auditing Commission |
| Highest organ of state power | |
| Full Convocation | |
| Name | Supreme People's Assembly |
| Type | Unicameral |
| Meeting place | Mansudae Assembly Hall, Pyongyang |
| Standing Body | |
| Standing body | Standing Committee |
| Chair | Choe Ryong-hae |
| Executive organ | |
| Name | Cabinet |
| Head of Government | |
| Title | Premier |
| Currently | Kim Tok-hun |
| Appointer | Supreme People's Assembly |
| Military organ | |
| Name | Central Military Commission |
| Chairman | Kim Jong Un |
| Judicial organ | |
| Name | Central Court |
| Chief judge | Choe Kun-yong (President) |
| Seat | Pyongyang |
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 North Korea portal |
The politics of North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK) takes place within the framework of the official state philosophy, Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism. Juche, which is a part of Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, is the belief that only through self-reliance and a strong independent state, can true socialism be achieved.[1][2]
North Korea's political system is built upon the principle of centralization. The constitution defines North Korea as "a dictatorship of people's democracy"[3] under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), which is given legal supremacy over other political parties. WPK General Secretary is typically the supreme leader, who controls the WPK Presidium, the WPK Politburo, the WPK Secretariat and the WPK Central Military Commission, making the officeholder the most powerful person in North Korea.
The WPK is the ruling party of North Korea. It has been in power since its creation in 1948. Other minor political parties also exist, but are legally bound to accept the ruling role of the WPK.[4] Elections occur only in single-candidate races where the candidate is effectively selected beforehand by the WPK.[5] In addition to the parties, there are over 100 mass organizations controlled by the WPK.[6][7] Those who are not WPK members are required to join one of these organizations.[8] Of these, the most important ones are the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, Socialist Women's Union of Korea, General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea.[6]
Outside observers generally view North Korea as a totalitarian dictatorship[9][10][11][12] particularly noting the elaborate cult of personality around Kim Il-sung and his family. The WPK, led by a member of the ruling family,[13] holds power in the state.[14] The government has formally replaced all references to Marxism–Leninism in its constitution with the locally developed concept of Juche, or self-reliance. Kim Jong Il placed emphasis on the Songun or "military-first" philosophy, and all references to communism were removed from the North Korean constitution in 2009.[15] Under Kim Jong Un, terminology such as communism and the socialist economy is again in common use.[16] He additionally made Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism the main ideology of the country.
- ^ Becker, Jasper (2005). Rogue Regime: Kim Jong Il and the Looming Threat of North Korea. New York City: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-517044-3.
- ^ Myers, B. R. (2011). The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. pp. 45–46 Paperback edition.
- ^ "Naenara Democratic People's Republic of Korea". www.naenara.com.kp. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (26 November 2014). "Being a minor party in the North". NK News. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Freedom in the World, 2006". Freedom House. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2007.
- ^ a b Scalapino, Robert A.; Chun-yŏp Kim (1983). North Korea Today: Strategic and Domestic Issues. Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, Center for Korean Studies. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-912966-55-7.
- ^ Kagan, Richard; Oh, Matthew; Weissbrodt, David S. (1988). Human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Committee. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-929692-23-4.
- ^ Understanding North Korea 2014 (PDF). Seoul: Institute for Unification Education. 2015. p. 367. OCLC 829395170. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2017.
- ^ "North Korea country profile". BBC News. 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Kim Jong Un's North Korea: Life inside the totalitarian state". Washington Post.
- ^ "Totalitarianism". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2018.
- ^ "Korea, North". Britannica Book of the Year 2014. London: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 2014. p. 642. ISBN 978-1-62513-171-3.
- ^ Audrey Yoo (16 October 2013). "North Korea rewrites rules to legitimise Kim family succession". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "The Parliamentary System of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (PDF). Constitutional and Parliamentary Information. Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ^ Herskovitz, Jon (28 September 2009). "North Korea drops communism, boosts "Dear Leader"". Reuters. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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