View source for Supreme People's Assembly

{{Short description|Unicameral legislature of North Korea}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color = {{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}
| name = Supreme People's Assembly of Democratic People's Republic of Korea 
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ko|최고인민회의}}<br />{{lang|ko-Hani|最高人民會議}}}}
| transcription_name = {{lang|ko-latn|Ch'oego Inmin Hoeŭi}}
| legislature = 14th Supreme People's Assembly
| coa_pic   = Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.svg
| house_type = [[Unicameralism|Unicameral]]
| leader1_type = [[Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly|Chairman of the Standing Committee]]
| leader1 = [[Choe Ryong-hae]]
| leader2_type = [[Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly|Chairman]]
| leader2 = [[Pak In-chol (politician)|Pak In-chol]]
| election1 = 11 April 2019
| election2 = 17 January 2023
| party1 = [[Workers' Party of Korea|WPK]]
| party2 = [[Workers' Party of Korea|WPK]]
| members = 687
| last_election1 = [[2019 North Korean parliamentary election|10 March 2019]]
| voting_system1 = [[Approval voting]] for single party-nominated candidate
| structure1 = Supreme People's Assembly Korea.svg
| structure1_res = 250px
| political_groups1 = {{plainlist|
*{{Color box|{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}|border=darkgray}} [[Workers' Party of Korea|Workers' Party]] (607)
*{{Color box|#FF6598|border=darkgray}} [[Korean Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Party]] (50)
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#F0001C|border=darkgray}} [[Chondoist Chongu Party]] (22)}}
*{{Color box|#C0C0C0|border=darkgray}} [[Chongryon|Ch'ongryŏn]] (6)
*{{Color box|#C0C0C0|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independents]] (2)
}}
|committees1 = {{blist|Foreign Affairs Committee|Budget Committee|Legislation Committee|Deputy Credentials Committee|Standing Committee}}
|session_room =   Mansudae Assembly Hall.JPG
|session_res =
|meeting_place = [[Mansudae Assembly Hall]]<br />[[Pyongyang]]<br />[[Democratic People's Republic of Korea]]
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
|title = &nbsp;
|context = north
|hangul = 최고인민회의
|hanja = 最高人民會議
|rr = Choego Inmin Hoeui
|mr = Ch'oego Inmin Hoeŭi
}}
{{Politics of North Korea |Government |width=22.0em}}

The '''Supreme People's Assembly''' ('''SPA'''; {{korean|hangul=최고인민회의|mr=Ch'oego Inmin Hoeŭi|context=north}}) 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 (politics)|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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=10 March 2019 |title=North Koreans vote in 'no-choice' parliamentary elections |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47492747 |access-date= |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Talmadge |first=Eric |date=10 March 2019 |title=North Korea goes to polls to rubber-stamp parliament lineup |url=https://apnews.com/article/dec2e0c6d6bb424c9fdfadbd23b98bec |access-date= |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref>

It consists of one deputy from each of North Korea's 687 constituencies,<ref name="arch_IPUP">{{Cite web | title = DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui (Supreme People's Assembly) | publisher = Inter-Parliamentary Union  | date = 5 August 2014 | access-date = 3 January 2018 | url = http://archive.ipu.org/parline/reports/2085.htm }}</ref> [[Elections in North Korea|elected]] to five-year terms.<ref name=pk>{{cite web|title=DPRK Holds Election of Local and National Assemblies |work=[[People's Korea]] |url=http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/195th_issue/2003081602.htm |access-date=2008-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510012133/http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/195th_issue/2003081602.htm |archive-date=2012-05-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Constitution of North Korea|constitution]] identifies the SPA as the "highest organ of state power" and all state positions, including the [[President of the State Affairs of North Korea|President of the State Affairs]] and in theory the [[Premier of North Korea|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|Standing Committee]]. Government officials carry out the policies legislated by the SPA subject to oversight and correction by the [[Workers' Party of Korea]]. {{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The Workers' Party of Korea, which the constitution recognizes as the state's leading party, dominates the Assembly in a monopoly [[Political coalition|coalition]] with the [[Korean Social Democratic Party|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 North Korean parliamentary election|2019]].

== History ==
Under the 1972 Constitution, the number of seats in the Assembly was 655.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xmwOAQAAMAAJ&q=Under+1972+Constitution|title=Elections since 1945: a worldwide reference compendium|last=Gorvin|first=Ian|date=1989-01-01|publisher=Longman|isbn=9780582036208|pages=196|language=en}}</ref> This was increased to 687 following the [[1986 North Korean parliamentary election|1986 election]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=umZPJ7DNGDYC |title=The Far East and Australasia 2001 |last1=Publications |first1=Europa |last2=Staff |first2=Europa Publications |last3=32nd |first3=Ed |date=2017-04-25 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=9781857430806 |pages=597 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426151545/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=umZPJ7DNGDYC |archive-date=2017-04-26 }}</ref>

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 [[Independent (politician)|independents]].<ref>Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments</ref>

The last convention during [[Kim Il Sung]]'s government took place in April 1994, three months before [[death of Kim Il-sung|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.<ref>[http://articles.cnn.com/1998-08-20/world/9808_20_n.korea.01_1_kims-parliament-state-president?_s=PM:WORLD "North Korean legislature seen set to name Kim president", CNN, August 20, 1998.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326124342/http://articles.cnn.com/1998-08-20/world/9808_20_n.korea.01_1_kims-parliament-state-president?_s=PM%3AWORLD |date=March 26, 2012 }}</ref>

[[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 Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly|chairman of the Assembly Presidum]] from 1998 until 2019.<ref name='KoreaHerald2007-10-04'>{{cite news|first=Jin |last=Dae-woong |title=Who's who in North Korea's power elite |date=2007-10-04 |url=http://www.koreaherald.co.kr:8080/servlet/cms.article.view?tpl=print&sname=National&img=/img/pic/ico_nat_pic.gif&id=200710040041 |work=[[Korea Herald|The Korea Herald]] |access-date=2007-10-05 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=Al83tito |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=1stSession14thSPA>{{Cite web |title=In full: promotions and demotions at North Korea's 14th SPA |publisher=Korea Risk Group |work=NK PRO |date=12 April 2019 |access-date=17 April 2019 |url= https://www.nknews.org/pro/in-full-promotions-and-demotions-at-north-koreas-14th-spa/ }}</ref> [[Pak Thae-song]] is the [[Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly|Chairman]] (Speaker), while Pak Chol-min and Pak Kum-hui are the vice-chairmen.<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>

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".<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-04/14/c_131526409.htm "DPRK revises constitution, elects Kim Jong Un as top leader", 2012-04-14] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418042145/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-04/14/c_131526409.htm |date=2012-04-18 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=38north-20170428>{{cite news|url=http://38north.org/2017/04/rfrank042817/ |title=The North Korean Parliamentary Session and Budget Report for 2017 |first=Ruediger |last=Frank |publisher=U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies |work=[[38 North]] |date=28 April 2017 |access-date=1 May 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428220943/http://38north.org/2017/04/rfrank042817/ |archive-date=28 April 2017 }}</ref> On 11 April 2019, [[Choe Ryong-hae]] was appointed chairman of the Presidium.<ref>{{cite web|title=N.K. leader re-elected as chairman of State Affairs Commission|date=12 April 2019|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190412001351325|publisher=[[Yonhap]]|access-date=12 April 2019}}</ref>

===Tenures===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Term
! Deputies
! Start
! End
! Duration
|-
| align="center" | [[1st Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea|1st]]
| align="center" | 572
| align="center" | 2 September 1948
| align="center" | 18 September 1957
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1948|9|2|1957|9|18|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[2nd Supreme People's Assembly|2nd]]
| align="center" | 215
| align="center" | 18 September 1957
| align="center" | 22 October 1962
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1957|9|18|1962|10|22|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[3rd Supreme People's Assembly|3rd]]
| align="center" | 383
| align="center" | 22 October 1962
| align="center" | 14 December 1967
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1962|10|22|1967|12|14|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[4th Supreme People's Assembly|4th]]
| align="center" | 457
| align="center" | 14 December 1967
| align="center" | 12 December 1972
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1967|12|14|1972|12|12|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[5th Supreme People's Assembly|5th]]
| align="center" | 541
| align="center" | 12 December 1972
| align="center" | 15 December 1977
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1972|12|12|1977|12|15|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | 6th
| align="center" | 579
| align="center" | 15 December 1977
| align="center" | 5 April 1982
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1977|12|15|1982|4|5|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[7th Supreme People's Assembly|7th]]
| align="center" | 615
| align="center" | 5 April 1982
| align="center" | 29 December 1986
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1982|4|5|1986|12|29|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | 8th
| align="center" | 655
| align="center" | 29 December 1986
| align="center" | 24 May 1990
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1986|12|29|1990|5|24|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[9th Supreme People's Assembly|9th]]
| align="center" | 687
| align="center" | 24 May 1990
| align="center" | 5 September 1998
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1990|5|24|1998|9|5|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[10th Supreme People's Assembly|10th]]
| align="center" | 687
| align="center" | 5 September 1998
| align="center" | 3 September 2003
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|1998|9|5|2003|9|3|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[11th Supreme People's Assembly|11th]]
| align="center" | 687
| align="center" | 3 September 2003
| align="center" | 9 April 2009
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|2003|9|3|2009|4|9|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[12th Supreme People's Assembly|12th]]
| align="center" | 687
| align="center" | 9 April 2009
| align="center" | 9 April 2014
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|2009|4|9|2014|4|9|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[13th Supreme People's Assembly|13th]]
| align="center" | 687
| align="center" | 9 April 2014
| align="center" | 11 April 2019
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|2014|4|9|2019|4|11|df=y}}
|-
| align="center" | [[14th Supreme People's Assembly|14th]]
| align="center" | 687
| align="center" | 11 April 2019
| align="center" | Incumbent
| align="center" | {{age in years and days|2019|4|11|df=y}}
|-
! colspan="8" unsortable | '''References:'''<br /><ref name=" SPA tenures ">{{cite web | url = http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/050th_issue/98070802.htm | title = Chronology of Supreme People's Assembly | author = [[Staff writer]] | date = 1998 | access-date = 25 February 2021 | work = [[The People's Korea]] | via= | archive-date = 14 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120214181441/http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/050th_issue/98070802.htm }}</ref>
|}

== Elections and membership ==
{{Further|Elections in North Korea|2019 North Korean parliamentary election}}

Under the [[Constitution of North Korea]], all [[Citizenship|citizens]] 20 and older, regardless of [[Political party|party]] affiliation, political views, or religion, are eligible to be elected to the legislature and vote in elections.

All candidates were 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 was 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.<ref name="votes">{{cite news |title=North Korea votes for new rubber-stamp parliament |date=8 March 2009 |publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Milisic |first=Alma |title=Foregone result in North Korea's local elections |publisher=[[Al-Jazeera English]] |url= http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/07/local-elections-north-korea-bring-change-150718180133222.html |date=19 July 2015}}</ref>

== 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:<ref name=euro>Europa Publications Staff. (2002). ''The Far East and Australasia 2003.'' Routledge. pp. 680. {{ISBN|978-1-85743-133-9}}</ref>

*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;<ref name=38north-20160408>{{cite news|url=http://38north.org/2016/04/rfrank040816/ |title=The 2016 North Korean Budget Report: 12 Observations |first=Ruediger |last=Frank |publisher=U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies |work=[[38 North]] |date=8 April 2016 |access-date=1 May 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504043145/http://38north.org/2016/04/rfrank040816/ |archive-date=4 May 2017 }}</ref>
*Elections of the President, vice-presidents and members of the [[State Affairs Commission of North Korea|State Affairs Commission]];
*Elections of the chairman, vice chairman and other members of the Standing Committee;
*Elections of legal officials;
*Appointing the [[Premier of North Korea|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.<ref name=euro/>

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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

==Standing Committee==
The [[Standing Committee]] is the [[Permanent organ of the supreme state organ of power|standing organ]] that exercises 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.<ref name='KoreaHerald2007-10-04'/>

The Standing Committee consists of the [[Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly|Chairman]], vice-chairmen, a secretary-general and other members, elected by the SPA.<ref name=unikorea>{{Cite web|title=Organizational Chart of North Korean Leadership|location=Seoul|publisher=Political and Military Analysis Division, Intelligence and Analysis Bureau; Ministry of Unification |date=January 2018|access-date=17 October 2018|url=https://www.unikorea.go.kr/cms/getFile.do?file=2018012913454378143.pdf&orgname=north_korean_Leadership.pdf&mgmtId=MGMT_0000000754&siteId=SITE_00003&filePath=eng_unikorea/common/file/&count=Y#.pdf}}</ref> The secretary-general, a largely symbolic role,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kim Jong Un's Pyongyang Shuffle |last=Madden |first=Michael |work=[[38 North]] |date=5 April 2013 |access-date=16 October 2018 |url= https://www.38north.org/2013/04/mmadden040513/ }}</ref> is currently [[Jong Yong-guk]].<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/> The functions of the Standing Committee are to:

*Convene sessions of the Supreme People's Assembly;<ref name=euro/>
*Examine and approve new state legislation when the SPA is in recess;<ref name=euro/>
*Supervise the {{ill|Supreme Prosecutor's Office of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea|ko|조선민주주의인민공화국 최고검찰소|lt=Supreme Prosecutor's Office}} when the SPA is not in session;{{sfn|Cha|Hwang|2008|p=201}}
*Supervise the [[Supreme Court of North Korea|Central Court]] when the SPA is in recess;{{sfn|Minnich|2008|p=276}}
*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;<ref name=euro/>
*Form or dissolve state ministries;<ref name=euro/>
*Supervise laws of State organs;<ref name=euro/>
*Supervise parliamentary committees;<ref name=unikorea/>
*Organize elections to the Supreme People's Assembly;<ref name=euro/>
*Ratify treaties with foreign countries;<ref name=euro/>
*Appoint, transfer, or remove officials and judges when the SPA is in recess;<ref name=euro/>
*Grant special pardons or amnesties.<ref name=euro/>

In addition to its executive functions, the Standing Committee also receives [[Letter of credence|credentials of diplomatic representatives]] from foreign countries with the consent of the President of the SAC.<ref name=euro/>

In 1998, a constitutional amendment abolished the posts of the [[Eternal leaders of North Korea#Presidency of North Korea before 1994|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.{{sfn|Cha|Hwang|2008|p=196}} Of these organs, the Presidium was seen as the successor of the Standing Committee.{{sfn|Cha|Hwang|2008|p=198}} 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.<ref>{{cite constitution |article=117 |clause= |section=4 |polity=the Democratic People's Republic of Korea|date=2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Standing Committee Members
|-
! Position
! Name
! {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-
|[[Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly|Chairman]]
|[[Choe Ryong-hae]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Vice Chairman
|''Vacant''
|
|-	
|Vice Chairman
|[[Thae Hyong-chol]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-	
|Secretary General
|[[Jong Yong-guk]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Kim Yong-chol]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Ju Yong-gil]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Kim Chang-yop]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Chang Chun-sil]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Kang Myong-chol]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Kang Su-rin]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-	
|Member
|[[Pak Myong-chol]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Kim Nung-o]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Kang Ji-yong (politician)|Kang Ji-yong]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Ri Myong-gil]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|-
|Member
|[[Ri Chol]]
|<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>
|}

===Chairman===
{{Main|Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly}}
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.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} Currently, the [[Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly]] is the SPA speaker,<ref name=Leadership>{{Cite web |title=6th Session of the 13th SPA Held |work=North Korea Leadership Watch |date=14 April 2018 |access-date=16 October 2018 |url= http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/2018/04/14/6th-session-of-the-13th-spa-held/ }}</ref> while the Chairman of the Standing Committee performs certain representative functions ordinarily accorded to a head of state.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} 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.{{sfn|Cha|Hwang|2008|p=198}}

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.<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>

==Committees==
In addition to the Standing Committee, the SPA has four [[parliamentary committees]]: the Foreign Affairs Committee, Budget Committee, Legislation Committee,<ref name="1stSession14thSPA"/> and Deputy Credentials Committee.<ref name="DeputyCredentials"/> The constitution mandates the Legislation and Budget Committees and leaves the choice of having more committees to the SPA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea |at=Chapter VI, Section 1, Article 98 |date=2016 |url=http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/politics/?rule+8 |access-date=25 October 2018 |archive-date=25 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025071311/http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/politics/?rule+8 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Before 1998, there was an additional committee called the Reunification-policy Deliberation Committee.{{sfn|Cha|Hwang|2008|p=198}} The Foreign Affairs Committee, too, was discontinued in 1998,{{sfn|Cha|Hwang|2008|p=198}} but {{as of|2019|lc=yes}} is operating again.<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>

===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 (politician)|Kim Jong-suk]], [[Kim Tong-son]], [[Choe Son-hui]], and [[Kim Song-il (North Korean politician)|Kim Song-il]].<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>

===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]].<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>

===Legislation Committee===
The Legislation Committee is chaired by [[Choe Pu-il]]. The other members are [[Kim Myong-gil (politician)|Kim Myong-gil]], [[Kang Yun-sok]], [[Pak Jong-nam]], [[Kim Yong-bae (politician)|Kim Yong-bae]], [[Jong Kyong-il]], and [[Ho Kwang-il]].<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/>

===Deputy Credentials Committee===
The Deputy Credentials Committee is chaired by [[Kim Phyong-hae]].<ref name=DeputyCredentials>{{Cite web |title=First-day Meeting of First Session of 14th SPA Held |work=KCNA Watch |date=12 April 2019 |access-date=18 April 2019 |url= https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1555063313-541651411/first-day-meeting-of-first-session-of-14th-spa-held/ }}</ref>

==List of office holders==
{{Further|Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly|Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | '''Chairman of the Standing Committee'''
|- style="background:#cccccc"
!colspan=2 align="center" width="0"|Chairman
!colspan=2 align="center" width="0"|Political party
! align="center" width="0" |Term Start
!Term End
!align="center" width="0"|Election
|- 
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Kim Tu-bong 2.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Kim Tu-bong]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|김두봉}}<br>1889&ndash;1958
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" |[[Workers' Party of North Korea]]
| rowspan="2" |9 September 1948	
| rowspan="2" |20 September 1957
| rowspan="2" |[[1948 North Korean parliamentary election|1st SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" |[[Workers' Party of Korea]]
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Ch'oe Yonggŏn.JPG|100px]]
| rowspan="4" |'''[[Choe Yong-gon (army commander)|Choe Yong-gon]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|최용건}}<br>1900&ndash;1976<br>
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Korean Social Democratic Party}}" |
| rowspan="1" |[[Korean Social Democratic Party|Korean Democratic Party]]
| rowspan="2" |20 September 1957	
| rowspan="2" |23 October 1962
| rowspan="2" |[[1957 North Korean parliamentary election|2nd SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="9" |[[Workers' Party of Korea]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |23 October 1962	
| rowspan="1" |16 December 1967
| rowspan="1" |[[1962 North Korean parliamentary election|3rd SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |16 December 1967	
| rowspan="1" |28 December 1972
| rowspan="1" |[[1967 North Korean parliamentary election|4th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Hwang Jang Yeop.jpg|90px]]
| rowspan="3" |'''[[Hwang Jang-yop]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|황장엽}}<br>1923&ndash;2010
| rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" |28 December 1972	
| rowspan="1" |16 December 1977
| rowspan="1" |[[1972 North Korean parliamentary election|5th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |16 December 1977	
| rowspan="1" |6 April 1982
| rowspan="1" |[[1977 North Korean parliamentary election|6th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |6 April 1982	
| rowspan="1" |7 April 1983
| rowspan="2" |[[1982 North Korean parliamentary election|7th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |'''[[Yang Hyong-sop]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|양형섭}}<br>(1925–2022)<br>
| rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" |7 April 1983	
| rowspan="1" |29 December 1986
|-
| rowspan="1" |29 December 1986	
| rowspan="1" |24 May 1990
| rowspan="1" |[[1986 North Korean parliamentary election|8th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |24 May 1990	
| rowspan="1" |5 September 1998
| rowspan="1" |[[1990 North Korean parliamentary election|9th SPA]]
|-
! colspan="7" | '''Chairman of the Presidium'''
|- style="background:#cccccc"
!colspan=2 align="center" width="0"|President
!colspan=2 align="center" width="0"|Political party
! align="center" width="0" |Term Start
!Term End
!align="center" width="0"|Election
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Kim Yong-nam in Moscow.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="4" |'''[[Kim Yong-nam]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|김영남}}<br>(born 1928)<br>[[File:Signature of Kim Yong-nam.svg|100px]]
| rowspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="5" |[[Workers' Party of Korea]]
| rowspan="1" |5 September 1998
| rowspan="1" |3 September 2003
| rowspan="1" |[[10th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |3 September 2003
| rowspan="1" |9 April 2009
| rowspan="1" |[[11th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |9 April 2009
| rowspan="1" |9 April 2014
| rowspan="1" |[[2009 North Korean parliamentary election|12th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |9 April 2014
| rowspan="1" |11 April 2019
| rowspan="1" |[[2014 North Korean parliamentary election|13th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |[[File:Choe Ryong-Hae.jpg|90px]]
| rowspan="1" |'''[[Choe Ryong-hae]]'''<ref name=1stSession14thSPA/><br>{{lang|ko|최룡해}}<br>(born 1950)
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" |11 April 2019
| rowspan="1" |Incumbent
| rowspan="1" |[[2019 North Korean parliamentary election|14th SPA]]
|-
! colspan="7" | '''Chairman of the Assembly'''
|- style="background:#cccccc"
!colspan=2 align="center" width="0"|Chairman
!colspan=2 align="center" width="0"|Political party
! align="center" width="0" |Term Start
!Term End
!align="center" width="0"|Election
|- 
| rowspan="1" |[[File:허헌.jpg|90px]]
| rowspan="1" |'''[[Ho Hon]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|허헌}} ({{lang|ko-Hani|許憲}})<br>(1885–1951)
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="3" |[[Workers' Party of Korea]]
| rowspan="1" |September 1948
| rowspan="1" |1951
| rowspan="1" |[[1948 North Korean parliamentary election|1st SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |[[File:1948.04.05 백남운.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="1" |'''[[Paek Nam-un]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|백남운}}<br>(1894–1979)
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" |25 November 1957
| rowspan="1" |1972
| rowspan="1" |[[1957 North Korean parliamentary election|4th SPA]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |'''[[Han Duk-su]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|한덕수}}<br>(1907–2001)
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" |1972
| rowspan="1" |1986
| rowspan="1" |[[1972 North Korean parliamentary election|5th SPA]]<br/>[[2019 North Korean parliamentary election|14th SPA]]<br/>[[1977 North Korean parliamentary election|6th SPA]]<br/>[[1982 North Korean parliamentary election|7th SPA]]
|-
! colspan="7" | '''Chairman'''
|- style="background:#cccccc"
!colspan=2 align="center" width="0"|Chairman
!colspan=2 align="center" width="0"|Political party
! align="center" width="0" |Term Start
!Term End
!align="center" width="0"|Election
|-
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |'''[[Choe Thae-bok]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|최태복}}<br>(1930–2024)
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="3" |[[Workers' Party of Korea]]
| rowspan="1" |5 September 1998
| rowspan="1" |11 April 2019
| rowspan="1" |[[1998 North Korean parliamentary election|10th SPA]]<br/>[[2003 North Korean parliamentary election|11th SPA]]<br/>[[2009 North Korean parliamentary election|12th SPA]]<br/>[[2014 North Korean parliamentary election|13th SPA]]<br/>
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[File:Pak Thae-song.jpg|80px]]
| rowspan="1" |'''[[Pak Thae-song]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|박태성}}<br>(born 1955)
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" |11 April 2019
| rowspan="1" |17 January 2023
| rowspan="2" |[[2019 North Korean parliamentary election|14th SPA]]
|-
|
| rowspan="1" |'''[[Pak In-chol (politician)|Pak In-chol]]'''<br>{{lang|ko|박인철}}
| rowspan="1" style="background:{{party color|Workers' Party of Korea}}" |
| rowspan="1" | 17 January 2023<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=19 January 2023 |title=8th Session of 14th SPA of DPRK Held |url=https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1674081309-100962737/8th-session-of-14th-spa-of-dprk-held/ |website=KCNA Watch}}</ref>
| rowspan="1" | Incumbent
|}

==Results==
===1948 North Korean parliamentary election (first)===
{{Election results
|alliance1=Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea|Fatherland Front|aspan1=8|party1=Workers' Party of North Korea|votes1=|seats1=157
|party2=Chondoist Chongu Party|votes2=|seats2=35
|party3=Korean Social Democratic Party|Korean Democratic Party|votes3=|seats3=35
|party4=Laboring People's Party|votes4=|seats4=20
|party5=People's Republic Party|votes5=|seats5=20
|party6=Democratic Independent Party|votes6=|seats6=20
|party7=Other parties|votes7=|seats7=171
|party8=Independents|votes8=|seats8=114
}}

===2019 North Korean parliamentary election (latest)===
{{Election results
|alliance1=Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea|Fatherland Front|aspan1=5|party1=Workers' Party of Korea|vspan1=5|seats1=682|sspan1=4
|party2=Korean Social Democratic Party
|party3=Chondoist Chongu Party
|party4=Independents
|party5=Chongryon|seats5=5
}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==See also==
{{Portal|North Korea|Politics}}
*[[Politics of North Korea]]
*[[List of legislatures by country]]
*[[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]], the South Korean legislature

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book|title=North Korea: A Country Study|editor-last=Worden|editor-first=Robert L.|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/northkoreacountr0000unse/page/187|edition=5th|year=2008|location=Washington|publisher=Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress|isbn=978-0-8444-1188-0|last1=Cha|first1=Victor D.|last2=Hwang|first2=Balbina Y.|chapter=Government and Politics|pages=[https://archive.org/details/northkoreacountr0000unse/page/187 187–234]}}
*{{cite book|title=North Korea: A Country Study|editor-last=Worden|editor-first=Robert L.|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/northkoreacountr0000unse/page/237|edition=5th|year=2008|location=Washington|publisher=Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress|isbn=978-0-8444-1188-0|chapter-format=PDF|chapter=National Security|last=Minnich|first=James M.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/northkoreacountr0000unse/page/237 237–281]}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://archive.ipu.org/parline/reports/2085.htm Supreme People's Assembly] at the [[Inter-Parliamentary Union]]
*[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/ North Korean Government], CIA World Factbook
*[https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5270FQ20090308 FACTBOX - North Korea's main political bodies and power], ''Reuters''.

{{North Korean elections}}
{{NKSpeakers}}
{{Asia topic |Parliament of |title=Parliaments of Asia|KP=Supreme People's Assembly}}
{{National unicameral legislatures}}

{{coord|39|01|43|N|125|44|59|E|region:KP_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Supreme People's Assembly| ]]
[[Category:Government of North Korea]]
[[Category:National legislatures|Korea, North]]
[[Category:Parliaments by country|Korea, North]]
[[Category:Unicameral legislatures|North Korea]]