| A formal democratic People's Republic has set up | | | | positions on subjects put forward by the three |
| a frame work for the politics of North Korea. It | | | | represented parties. The president of the |
| functions as a single-party state in practice. North | | | | Supreme People's Assembly is Kim Yong Nam. |
| Korea's political system is built upon the principle | | | | SPA has been regarded as a rubberstamp body |
| of centralization. While the constitution asserts | | | | by almost all outside sources. |
| human rights and democratic government, most | | | | Elections in North Korea are non-competitive. |
| power is within the hands of a ruling elite | | | | Legal system |
| dominated by Kim Jong-il. | | | | Constitution of North Korea's fifth and current |
| The government is highly controlling and has set | | | | constitution was written in September 1998, |
| severe limits for freedom of expression. Korean | | | | replacing the one previously adopted in 1972. The |
| Workers' Party (KWP) is the ruling party which | | | | former constitution had last been amended in |
| allows some slight inner-party democracy. The | | | | 1992. Under the constitution, North Korea has an |
| KWP has been ruling North Korea since its political | | | | unusual legal system based upon German civil law |
| beginnings in 1948. The Chondoist Chongu Party | | | | and influenced by Japanese legal theory. Criminal |
| and the Social Democratic Party, two minor | | | | penalties can be stiff, although one of the basic |
| political parties, also have elected officials. Both | | | | functions of the system is to uphold the power |
| these parties are legally bound to accept the ruling | | | | of the regime. North Korea is renowned for its |
| role of the KWP. | | | | poor human rights situation and regularly detains |
| Kim Il-sung was the powerful ruler of North Korea | | | | thousands of dissidents without trial or benefit of |
| whose reign started from 1948 until his death in | | | | legal advice. The judicial system is theoretically |
| July 1994. Kim has the honor of serving both as | | | | held accountable to the Supreme People's |
| General Secretary of the KWP and as President | | | | Assembly. |
| of North Korea. He was given the posthumous | | | | Political developments |
| title of Eternal President, symbolizing that he | | | | North Korean politics have been dominated by its |
| forever holds the position of President, which is | | | | foreign relations with South Korea for most of its |
| formally vacant. | | | | history. During the Cold War, North Korea aligned |
| North Korea has been widely recognized as a | | | | with the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of |
| Communist state in the Western world, but the | | | | China. The North Korean government invested |
| government has formally replaced references to | | | | heavily in its military. Actually, It had ambitions of |
| Marxism-Leninism in its constitution with the locally | | | | developing the capability to reunify Korea by |
| developed concept of Juche, or self-reliance. | | | | force if possible and also preparing to repel any |
| Cabinet | | | | attack by traditional enemies South Korea, Japan, |
| Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme | | | | or the United States. |
| People's Assembly / de facto head of state - Kim | | | | There was shift in the policy of North Korea |
| Yong-nam | | | | towards the end of the Cold War when their |
| Premier - Pak Pong-ju | | | | relations were loosened with the Soviet Union. |
| Foreign Minister - Paek Nam-sun | | | | North Korea developed an ideology, Juche, based |
| Vice Foreign Minister - Kim Kye Gwan | | | | upon a high degree of economic independence and |
| Vice Foreign Minister - Choe Su-hon | | | | the mobilization of all the resources of the nation |
| Minister of State Construction Control - Pae | | | | to defend against foreign powers seen as a |
| Tal-jun | | | | threat to the country's sovereignty. |
| President of the Central Bank of the Democratic | | | | North Korean efforts to improve relations with |
| People's Republic of Korea - Kim Wan Su | | | | South Korea in order to increase trade and to |
| Minister of Public Security - | | | | receive development assistance have not |
| Deputy Director - Paek Hak-rim | | | | achieved desired success. On the other hand, |
| Minister of People's Armed Forces - Kim Il Chol | | | | North Korea's determination to develop nuclear |
| Legislative branch | | | | weapons and ballistic missiles has prevented |
| According to the constitution, the highest organ of | | | | relations with Japan or the United States from |
| state power is the legislative Supreme People's | | | | improving. |
| Assembly (SPA). It has 687 members, who are | | | | At present, there is no evidence of significant |
| elected every five years. The Assembly usually | | | | internal threats to the current government. |
| holds only two meetings annually, each lasting a | | | | However, widespread starvation, increased |
| few days. A standing committee, known as the | | | | emigration through China, and new sources of |
| Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and | | | | information about the outside world for ordinary |
| elected by the Assembly, performs legislative | | | | North Koreans are the important factors pointing |
| functions when the Assembly is not in session. | | | | to an imminent collapse of the regime, but North |
| The Assembly officially chooses between, | | | | Korea has remained stable in spite of more than a |
| compromises upon, and ratifies the political | | | | decade of such predictions. |