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The President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea () is the
head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...
of
North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and T ...
.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 100 The president chairs the
State Affairs Commission The State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SAC) is defined by the 2016 constitution as "the supreme policy-oriented leadership body of State power." The current president of the SAC, which is defined by the same ...
(SAC), which is the highest leadership institution in North Korea, and serves as the commander-in-chief of the North Korean armed forces. The
North Korean constitution The Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea () is the constitution of North Korea. It was approved by the 6th Supreme People's Assembly at its first session on 27 December 1972, and has been amended and supplemented ...
gives the president the power to lead the overall affairs of the state and appoint important state officials.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 104 The president also has the power to appoint diplomatic representatives and conclude treaties with other countries. The president can declare a state of emergency, a state of war or a mobilization order and direct the country's national defence during times of war. The president also has absolute control over North Korea's nuclear arsenal. The president of the State Affairs is elected by the
Supreme People's Assembly The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA; ) is the unicameral legislature of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. It consists of one deputy from each of the DPRK's 687 constituencies, elected to five-year ...
.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 91Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 101 The position is held by the
general secretary Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...
of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), who leads the ruling political party of North Korea and serves as the
supreme leader of North Korea The supreme leader () of North Korea is the ''de facto'' paramount leader of the Workers' Party of Korea, the state and the Korean People's Army. The title has not been written into the national constitution as a separate office, but it curren ...
. The term of the president is the same as that of the Supreme People's Assembly and has no term limits.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 102 The current president is
Kim Jong-un Kim Jong-un (; , ; born 8 January 1982) is a North Korean politician who has been Supreme Leader of North Korea since 2011 and the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) since 2012. He is a son of Kim Jong-il, who was North Korea's sec ...
, who took office on 29 June 2016 and was re-elected on 11 April 2019.Alt URL
/ref>Alt URL
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History


Chairman of the National Defence Commission

The position was first established as the chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Central People's Committee (Korean: 중앙인민위원회 국방위원회 위원장) on 28 December 1972. At that time, the National Defence Commission was a commission subordinate to the Central People's Committee, which was the highest leadership institution in North Korea from 1972 until 1998. The 1972 North Korean constitution stated that the president of North Korea is also the chairman of the National Defence Commission, as well as the supreme commander of the country's armed forces.
Kim Il-sung Kim Il-sung (; , ; born Kim Song-ju, ; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he ruled from the country's establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of ...
, who was the president of North Korea, was the chairman of the National Defence Commission from 28 December 1972 until 9 April 1993. On 9 April 1992, the position became known as the chairman of the National Defence Commission (Korean: 국방위원회 위원장) following the approval of an amendment to the 1972 constitution that made the National Defence Commission into a separate institution from the Central People's Committee. The amendment expanded the chairman's powers to become the head of the highest military leadership institution in North Korea. The 1992 constitutional amendment no longer required the president to also be the chairman of the National Defence Commission and the supreme commander of the armed forces. This allowed
Kim Jong-il Kim Jong-il (; ; ; born Yuri Irsenovich Kim;, 16 February 1941 – 17 December 2011) was a North Korean politician who was the second supreme leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011. He led North Korea from the 1994 death of his father Ki ...
, who was Kim Il-sung's designated successor, to be elected as chairman of the National Defence Commission on 9 April 1993. Prior to his election, Kim Jong-il was elected as first vice chairman of the National Defence Commission on 24 May 1990 and became the supreme commander of the
Korean People's Army The Korean People's Army (KPA; ) is the military force of North Korea and the armed wing of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Under the '' Songun'' policy, it is the central institution of North Korean society. Currently, WPK General S ...
on 24 December 1991. Following Kim Il-sung's death on 8 July 1994, another constitutional amendment was approved on 5 September 1998 which further expanded the powers of the chairman of the National Defence Commission. The amendment enshrined Kim Il-sung as North Korea's eternal president and abolished the position. While it is not stated by the amended constitution, the National Defence Commission became the de facto highest leadership institution in the country with its chairman holding the highest office of the state. Despite the 1998 constitutional amendment effectively making the chairman of the National Defence Commission the highest office in North Korea, it did not have the status of head of state. The
president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly The chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (), formerly known as the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Ko ...
was designated as the country's head of state from 1998 until 2019. On 9 April 2009, the powers of the chairman of the National Defence Commission was expanded through another constitutional amendment. The amendment designated the chairman as the supreme leader of the country. The chairman was given the power to direct all state affairs and conclude important treaties with foreign countries. The chairman can also appoint or dismiss important national defence officials, grant special pardons, declare a state of emergency and a state of war and issue mobilization order. After his election as chairman of the National Defence Commission in 1993, Kim Jong-il was re-elected in September 1998, September 2003 and April 2009, and served in this position until his death on 17 December 2011.


First Chairman of the National Defence Commission

Following Kim Jong Il's death, the position of chairman of the National Defence Commission remained vacant from December 2011 until April 2012. A constitutional amendment was approved on 13 April 2012 which enshrined Kim Jong Il as the eternal chairman of the National Defence Commission (Korean: 영원한 국방위원회 위원장). The amendment also created the position of first chairman of the National Defence Commission (Korean: 국방위원회 제1위원장) which was designated as the supreme leader of the country. Kim Jong-un, who is Kim Jong-il's designated successor, was elected as first chairman of the National Defence Commission on 13 April 2012 and was re-elected in April 2014.


President of the State Affairs

On 29 June 2016, a constitutional amendment was approved by the Supreme People's Assembly that created the State Affairs Commission to replace the National Defence Commission as the highest leadership institution in North Korea. The amendment also created the position of chairman of the State Affairs Commission. Kim Jong-un was elected as chairman of the State Affairs Commission on 29 June 2016 and was re-elected on 11 April 2019. On 11 April 2019, the constitution was amended to make the chairman of the State Affairs Commission the head of state of North Korea. Another constitutional amendment on 29 August of the same year gave the chairman the power to promulgate the ordinances of the Supreme People's Assembly and the decrees and decisions of the State Affairs Commission and appoint North Korea's diplomatic representatives to foreign countries. In February 2021, the official English translation for the position was changed to president of the State Affairs. However, the word 위원장, meaning "chairman", was replaced neither by the word 주석 (used for the office of president of North Korea held by
Kim Il-Sung Kim Il-sung (; , ; born Kim Song-ju, ; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he ruled from the country's establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of ...
between 1972 and 1994) nor by the word 대통령 (used by the
president of South Korea The president of the Republic of Korea (), also known as the president of South Korea (often abbreviated to POTROK or POSK; ), is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Korea. The president leads the State Council, and ...
).


Election

According to the Constitution, the president of the State Affairs is elected by the Supreme People's Assembly. It requires that the election should be according to the "consensus of the entire Korean people". The election of the president of the State Affairs takes place during a session of the Supreme People's Assembly. The
Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea ( ko, 조선로동당 중앙위원회) is the highest party body between national meetings of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the ruling party of North Korea. According to WPK rules, th ...
sends a proposal to the Supreme People's Assembly for a candidate to be elected as the president. The Central Committee's proposal is introduced to the Supreme People's Assembly by the chairman of its Standing Committee. Then, the Supreme People's Assembly unanimously votes for the candidate. In practice, this position is reserved for the general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the top leader in the
one-party state A one-party state, single-party state, one-party system, or single-party system is a type of sovereign state in which only one political party has the right to form the government, usually based on the existing constitution. All other partie ...
. The term of the president of the State Affairs is the same as the term of the Supreme People's Assembly, which is usually five years. The constitution does not set a term limit for the president. The president may not be elected as a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly. The Supreme People's Assembly has the power to recall the president. The constitution does not set other qualifications for the president of the State Affairs. As a result, the right to be elected as president is governed by the normal provisions regarding the right to be elected, which are granted to all North Korean citizens who are at least 17 years old.


Powers


Domestic policy

The president of the State Affairs has the power to direct the overall work of the state as the supreme leader of North Korea. The president also heads the State Affairs Commission, which is the highest leadership institution in North Korea. The State Affairs Commission is responsible for discussing and deciding on important state policies.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 110 The SAC also supervises the execution of the orders of the president and the SAC decrees, decisions and directives. Decisions and directives of state institutions that are contrary to the orders of the president or SAC decrees, decisions and directives can be revoked by the SAC.


Nominations and appointments

The president of the State Affairs has the power to nominate the first vice president, vice president, and members of the State Affairs Commission, who are then elected by the Supreme People's Assembly. The president can also propose for their recall by the Supreme People's Assembly. The president also has the power to appoint or dismiss important state officials. However, the constitution does not state who these important state officials are.


Legislation

The president of the State Affairs can submit an agenda that will be discussed by the Supreme People's Assembly.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 95 The commission can also submit an agenda to the Supreme People's Assembly. The president has the power to promulgate ordinances of the Supreme People's Assembly and the SAC decrees, decisions and directives, and to issue orders. The State Affairs Commission supervises the execution of these orders.


Foreign affairs

The president of the State Affairs represents North Korea in its foreign relations as its head of state, can conclude major treaties, and can appoint and recall North Korea's diplomatic representatives to foreign countries. Foreign countries address the credentials and recall of their ambassadors to North Korea to the president, although customarily the task of receiving them is delegated to the chairman of the SPA Standing Committee.


Commander-in-chief

The president of the State Affairs is the
commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of North Korea The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( Korean: 조선민주주의인민공화국무력 최고사령관) is the commander-in-chief of the Korean People's Army, the military of North Korea. The office ...
.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 103 As commander-in-chief, the president has command of the entire armed forces. The president additionally has "monolithic command" over the nuclear forces of North Korea. The president has the power to declare a state of emergency, a state of war or a mobilization order, and can organize a national defence committee during wartime.


Other powers

The president of the State Affairs Commission can exercise the right to grant special pardon.


List of position holders


See also

*
General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea The general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea ( Korean: 조선로동당 총비서) is the head of the Workers' Party of Korea, the ruling party in North Korea, and considered as the supreme leader of North Korea. The general secreta ...
*
Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea The Central Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (CMC) () is an organ of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) which is responsible for coordinating the Party organizations within the ...
*
Vice President of the State Affairs Commission The vice presidents of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (), previously titled as vice chairmen of the State Affairs Commission, are members of the State Affairs Commission under the President of the St ...
*
President of South Korea The president of the Republic of Korea (), also known as the president of South Korea (often abbreviated to POTROK or POSK; ), is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Korea. The president leads the State Council, and ...


References

{{Supreme People's Assembly 1972 establishments in North Korea State Affairs State Affairs State Affairs Commission