# Supreme People's Assembly

The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA; Korean: 최고인민회의; MR: Ch'oego Inmin Hoeŭi) is the legislature of North Korea. It is ostensibly the highest organ of state power and the only branch of government in North Korea, with all state organs subservient to it under the principle of unified power. However, in practice it is a rubber stamp legislature which exists to approve decisions made by the ruling party as a formality, and which has little to no real power of its own.
It consists of one deputy from each of North Korea's 687 constituencies, elected to five-year terms.
The constitution identifies the SPA as the "highest organ of state power" and all state positions, including the President of the State Affairs and in theory the Premier of the Cabinet, trace their authority to it. The Assembly typically does not legislate directly but delegates that task to a smaller Standing Committee. Government officials carry out the policies legislated by the SPA subject to oversight and correction by the Workers' Party of Korea.
The Workers' Party of Korea, which the constitution recognizes as the state's leading party, dominates the Assembly in a monopoly coalition with the Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party called the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea. Elections are held in five-year intervals, the most recent in 2019.

## 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 chairman of the Assembly Presidum from 1998 until 2019. Pak Thae-song is the Chairman (Speaker), 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, chairman of the SPA Presidium, said Kim's accession to North Korea'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 Paektu, 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, which had use in terms of dialogue with international parliaments. On 11 April 2019, Choe Ryong-hae was appointed chairman of the Presidium.

### Tenures

| Term | Deputies | Start | End | Duration |
| 1st | 572 | 2 September 1948 | 18 September 1957 | 9 years, 16 days |
| 2nd | 215 | 18 September 1957 | 22 October 1962 | 5 years, 34 days |
| 3rd | 383 | 22 October 1962 | 14 December 1967 | 5 years, 53 days |
| 4th | 457 | 14 December 1967 | 12 December 1972 | 4 years, 364 days |
| 5th | 541 | 12 December 1972 | 15 December 1977 | 5 years, 3 days |
| 6th | 579 | 15 December 1977 | 5 April 1982 | 4 years, 111 days |
| 7th | 615 | 5 April 1982 | 29 December 1986 | 4 years, 268 days |
| 8th | 655 | 29 December 1986 | 24 May 1990 | 3 years, 146 days |
| 9th | 687 | 24 May 1990 | 5 September 1998 | 8 years, 104 days |
| 10th | 687 | 5 September 1998 | 3 September 2003 | 4 years, 363 days |
| 11th | 687 | 3 September 2003 | 9 April 2009 | 5 years, 218 days |
| 12th | 687 | 9 April 2009 | 9 April 2014 | 5 years, 0 days |
| 13th | 687 | 9 April 2014 | 11 April 2019 | 5 years, 2 days |
| 14th | 687 | 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | 5 years, 332 days |
| References: |||||

## Elections and membership

Under the Constitution of North Korea, all citizens 20 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 Korea 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 Korea is a popular front dominated by the Korean Workers' 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 Children's Union, the Socialist Patriotic 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 Korea appears on the ballot. A voter may cross off the candidate's name to vote against them, but must do so in a special booth without any secrecy. The voter must then drop their ballot into a separate box for "no" votes. Voting against a Democratic Front candidate is considered treasonous; those who do face the loss of their jobs and housing, along with extra surveillance. Refusing to vote at all is also considered a treasonous act.

## Functions

The Assembly is convened once or twice a year in regular plenary sessions of several days each. At all other times, the Standing Committee acts for the Assembly. Extraordinary sessions of the Assembly can also meet when called by the Standing Committee 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 legislation,
* approve major statutory laws adopted by the SPA Standing Committee 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 President, vice-presidents and members of the State Affairs Commission;
* Elections of the chairman, vice chairman and other members of the Standing Committee;
* 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 chief justice of the Central Court
* Elect or recall the prosecutor general of the Central General Prosecutor's Office
Constitutional amendments require the approval of two-thirds of the deputies.
While the Supreme People's Assembly is vested with great powers on paper, in practice the principles of democratic centralism leave it with little real power. Like most Communist legislatures, it does little more than ratify decisions already made by Kim and the top leadership of the WPK.

## Standing Committee

The Standing Committee 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 Standing Committee consists of the Chairman, vice-chairmen, a secretary-general and other members, elected by the SPA. The secretary-general, a largely symbolic role, is currently Jong Yong-guk. The functions of the Standing Committee are to:
* Convene sessions of the Supreme People's Assembly;
* Examine and approve new state legislation when the SPA is in recess;
* Supervise the Supreme Prosecutor's Office [ko] 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 President of the State Affairs Commission (SAC) now having the power to enact important laws presented for legislation;
* 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.
In addition to its executive functions, the Standing Committee also receives credentials of diplomatic representatives from foreign countries with the consent of the President of the SAC.
In 1998, a constitutional amendment 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 a new body titled the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. Of these organs, the Presidium was seen as the successor of the Standing Committee. In 2021, the Presidium reverted its name back to Standing Committee, though the powers provided by the original constitutional amendment used to abolish the previous Standing Committee remain unaltered. Thus, the Standing Committee formed in 2021 currently serves as a continuation of the Presidium rather than a re-creation of the Standing Committee that had existed before 1998.
Standing Committee Members :
| Position | Name |
| Chairman | Choe Ryong-hae |
| Vice Chairman | Vacant |
| Vice Chairman | 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 |

### Chairman

Prior to the creation of the post of President of North Korea in 1972, the Chairman of the Standing Committee was the country's de jure head of state. Currently, the Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly is the SPA speaker, while the Chairman of the Standing Committee performs certain 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 Chairman of the Standing Committee is often considered the de facto head of state of North Korea, though officially this role is reserved for the President of the State Affairs Commission. The chairman also convenes sessions of the SPA.
The chairman, like the rest of the Standing Committee, is elected by the SPA, which can also remove the chairman. Choe Ryong-hae assumed the office of Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly in 2019 before the office was given the current name in 2021.

## Committees

In addition to the Standing Committee, the SPA has four parliamentary committees: the Foreign Affairs Committee, Budget Committee, Legislation Committee, and Deputy Credentials Committee. The constitution mandates the Legislation and Budget Committees and leaves the choice of having more committees to the SPA. Before 1998, there was an additional committee called the Reunification-policy Deliberation Committee. The Foreign Affairs Committee, too, was discontinued in 1998, but as of 2019 is operating again.

### Foreign Affairs Committee

The Foreign Affairs Committee is chaired by Kim Hyong-jun. The other members are Ro Ryong-nam, Ri Son-gwon, Kim Jong-suk, Kim Tong-son, Choe Son-hui, and Kim Song-il.

### Budget Committee

The Budget Committee is chaired by O Su-yong. The other members are Hong So-hon, Pak Hyong-ryol, Ri Hi-yong, Kim Kwang-uk, Choe Yong-il, and Ri Kum-ok.

### Legislation Committee

The Legislation Committee is chaired by Choe Pu-il. The other members are Kim Myong-gil, Kang Yun-sok, Pak Jong-nam, Kim Yong-bae, Jong Kyong-il, and Ho Kwang-il.

### Deputy Credentials Committee

The Deputy Credentials Committee is chaired by Kim Phyong-hae.

## List of office holders

Chairman of the Standing Committee :
| Chairman | Chairman | Political party | Political party | Term Start | Term End | Election |
| | Kim Tu-bong 김두봉 1889–1958 | | Workers' Party of North Korea | 9 September 1948 | 20 September 1957 | 1st SPA |
| | Kim Tu-bong 김두봉 1889–1958 | | Workers' Party of Korea | 9 September 1948 | 20 September 1957 | 1st SPA |
| | Choe Yong-gon 최용건 1900–1976 | | Korean Democratic Party | 20 September 1957 | 23 October 1962 | 2nd SPA |
| | Choe Yong-gon 최용건 1900–1976 | | Workers' Party of Korea | 20 September 1957 | 23 October 1962 | 2nd SPA |
| | Choe Yong-gon 최용건 1900–1976 | | Workers' Party of Korea | 23 October 1962 | 16 December 1967 | 3rd SPA |
| | Choe Yong-gon 최용건 1900–1976 | | Workers' Party of Korea | 16 December 1967 | 28 December 1972 | 4th SPA |
| | Hwang Jang-yop 황장엽 1923–2010 | | Workers' Party of Korea | 28 December 1972 | 16 December 1977 | 5th SPA |
| | Hwang Jang-yop 황장엽 1923–2010 | | Workers' Party of Korea | 16 December 1977 | 6 April 1982 | 6th SPA |
| | Hwang Jang-yop 황장엽 1923–2010 | | Workers' Party of Korea | 6 April 1982 | 7 April 1983 | 7th SPA |
| | Yang Hyong-sop 양형섭 (1925–2022) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 7 April 1983 | 29 December 1986 | 7th SPA |
| | Yang Hyong-sop 양형섭 (1925–2022) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 29 December 1986 | 24 May 1990 | 8th SPA |
| | Yang Hyong-sop 양형섭 (1925–2022) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 24 May 1990 | 5 September 1998 | 9th SPA |
| Chairman of the Presidium |||||||
| President | President | Political party | Political party | Term Start | Term End | Election |
| | Kim Yong-nam 김영남 (born 1928) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 5 September 1998 | 3 September 2003 | 10th SPA |
| | Kim Yong-nam 김영남 (born 1928) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 3 September 2003 | 9 April 2009 | 11th SPA |
| | Kim Yong-nam 김영남 (born 1928) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 9 April 2009 | 9 April 2014 | 12th SPA |
| | Kim Yong-nam 김영남 (born 1928) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 9 April 2014 | 11 April 2019 | 13th SPA |
| | Choe Ryong-hae 최룡해 (born 1950) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | 14th SPA |
| Chairman of the Assembly |||||||
| Chairman | Chairman | Political party | Political party | Term Start | Term End | Election |
| | Ho Hon 허헌 (許憲) (1885–1951) | | Workers' Party of Korea | September 1948 | 1951 | 1st SPA |
| | Paek Nam-un 백남운 (1894–1979) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 25 November 1957 | 1972 | 4th SPA |
| | Han Duk-su 한덕수 (1907–2001) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 1972 | 1986 | 5th SPA 14th SPA 6th SPA 7th SPA |
| Chairman |||||||
| Chairman | Chairman | Political party | Political party | Term Start | Term End | Election |
| | Choe Thae-bok 최태복 (1930–2024) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 5 September 1998 | 11 April 2019 | 10th SPA 11th SPA 12th SPA 13th SPA |
| | Pak Thae-song 박태성 (born 1955) | | Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2019 | 17 January 2023 | 14th SPA |
| | Pak In-chol 박인철 | | Workers' Party of Korea | 17 January 2023 | Incumbent | 14th SPA |