Government of North Korea
Encyclopedia
The North Korea
n government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea
which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il
.
North Korea's Songun
"Military First" policy elevates the Korean People's Army
within North Korea as an organization and as a state function, granting it the primary position in the North Korean government and society. It guides domestic policy
and international interactions
.
(SPA). The SPA chooses a premier who appoints three vice premiers and the government's ministers. The government is dominated by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea
(WPK) and has been since North Korea's inception in 1948.
The Cabinet now has the right to supervise and control the Local People’s Committee (LPC) with regard to local economies and administration. As the State Administrative Council (SAC) was replaced by the Cabinet, the Local Administrative and Economic Committee (LAEC) was abolished and its functions regarding local politics transferred to the LPC.
A party chief secretary no longer concurrently holds the post of LPC chairman, which has been taken over by a former LAEC chairman. Thus, the LPC is theoretically independent of the local party and is under the control of the Cabinet. The status of the LPC as the local executive organ, in principle, became higher than before.
The Economist Intelligence Unit
, lists North Korea in last place as an authoritarian regime in its Democracy Index
assessing 168 countries.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea
National Defence Commission of North Korea
The National Defense Commission of North Korea is defined by the 1998 constitution as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters.” The Chairman of the National Defense Commission controls the armed forces and, in this state where the military...
which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
.
North Korea's Songun
Songun
Sŏn'gun, often spelled Songun, is North Korea's "Military First" policy, which prioritizes the Korean People's Army in the affairs of state and allocates national resources to the army first...
"Military First" policy elevates the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
within North Korea as an organization and as a state function, granting it the primary position in the North Korean government and society. It guides domestic policy
Politics of North Korea
The politics of North Korea take place within a nominally democratic multi-party system within the framework of the official state philosophy, Juche, a concept created by the founder of the North Korean state, Kim Il-sung, and his son and successor as leader, Kim Jong-il. In practice, North Korea...
and international interactions
Foreign relations of North Korea
The foreign relations of North Korea are often tense and unpredictable. Since the Korean War armistice in 1953, the North Korean government has been largely isolationist, becoming one of the world's most authoritarian societies...
.
Institutions
The government is confirmed by the Supreme People's AssemblySupreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
(SPA). The SPA chooses a premier who appoints three vice premiers and the government's ministers. The government is dominated by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
(WPK) and has been since North Korea's inception in 1948.
The Cabinet now has the right to supervise and control the Local People’s Committee (LPC) with regard to local economies and administration. As the State Administrative Council (SAC) was replaced by the Cabinet, the Local Administrative and Economic Committee (LAEC) was abolished and its functions regarding local politics transferred to the LPC.
A party chief secretary no longer concurrently holds the post of LPC chairman, which has been taken over by a former LAEC chairman. Thus, the LPC is theoretically independent of the local party and is under the control of the Cabinet. The status of the LPC as the local executive organ, in principle, became higher than before.
The Economist Intelligence Unit
Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is part of the Economist Group.It is a research and advisory company providing country, industry and management analysis worldwide and incorporates the former Business International Corporation, a U.S. company acquired by the parent organization in 1986...
, lists North Korea in last place as an authoritarian regime in its Democracy Index
Democracy Index
The Democracy Index is an index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit that claims to measure the state of democracy in 167 countries, of which 166 are sovereign states and 165 are UN member states...
assessing 168 countries.
Cabinet
- Office of the Premier of the DPRK
- Office of the Vice Premier of the DPRK
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of the People's Armed Forces
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of People's Security
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Public Health
- Ministry of Post and Telecommunications
- Ministry of Land and Marine Transportation
- Ministry of Railways
- Ministry of Commerce
- Ministry of Labour
- Ministry of Culture
- Ministry of City Management
- Ministry of Capital City Construction Development
- Ministry of Metal Industry
- Ministry of Electronics Industries
- Ministry of Construction and Building-Materials Industries
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ministry of Forestry
- Ministry of Fisheries
- Ministry of Oil Industry
- Ministry of Land and Environment Preservation
- Ministry of State Construction Control
- Ministry of Procurement and Food Administration
- Ministry of State Inspection
- Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports Affairs
- State Planning Commission
- Director of the Central Statistic Bureau
- President of the Central Bank of the DPRK
- President of the National Academy of Sciences
- Chief Secretary of the Cabinet
- Office of the President of the Cabinet Political Bureau
- Office of the Vice President of the Cabinet Political Bureau