North Korea Election System

North Korea's First Deputy Election without Kim

Voters to Select Representatives for Rubber-Stamp Parliament

Background on North Korean Elections

Elections in North Korea are held every four-to-five years for the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the country's national legislature. Local elections have been held since 1999.

Prior to the 2019 elections, Kim Jong-un had always stood in the SPA elections. However, he did not participate in the 2019 election, marking a departure from past practices.

Current Election: Voting for Rubber-Stamp Parliament

This weekend's elections mark the second time North Koreans will vote to elect the country's rubber-stamp parliament. Voters from 687 constituencies will select representative deputies to serve in the SPA. These elections provide a glimpse into the inner workings of North Korea's tightly controlled political system. The SPA is tasked with rubber-stamping decisions already made by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

The election results are predetermined, and the deputies serve primarily to legitimize the decisions of the party and its leader.

Financial Times

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