does north korea vote for president

Are there elections in North Korea?

North Korean elections are today — Yes, they really do vote there Technically, Kim Jong-Un is elected. What would happen if the voters rejected him? Today is election day in North Korea. Yes, there are elections in North Korea. What does that mean? What does democracy look like in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea?

Who won North Korea's parliamentary election?

North Korea's state media confirmed on Monday what was surely never in doubt — a 100 percent, no-abstention victory for leader Kim Jong Un in the country's stage-managed parliamentary election.

Do North Koreans have a duty to vote?

As a North Korean citizen you have the duty to vote for well over 600 ‘elected’ positions, from Supreme People’s Assembly (on which Kim sits) all the way down to local community councils and institutional administrators. But there is always only one name on the ballotfor each position and there are penalties for not voting.

Does North Korea have a political structure?

Kim Jong-un pointing. REUTERS/KCNA Just because North Korea is a totalitarian regime doesn't mean it don't have a political structure. Technically, the regime is still led by deceased founder Kim Il-sung, who serves in spirit form as the country's Eternal President.

How often are elections held in North Korea?

Elections in North Korea are held every four-to-five years for the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the country's national legislature, and every four years for Local People's Assemblies. All seats are won by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland. The founding and ruling Workers' Party of Korea dominates ...

What is the slogan of the Pyongyang propaganda poster?

A propaganda poster in Pyongyang with the slogan "Let's all vote yes!" ("모두다 찬성투표 하자!")

How many candidates are on each ballot?

Only one candidate appears on each ballot. Elections are ostensibly conducted by secret ballot, and a voter may cross off the candidate's name to vote against them, but must do so by crossing out the name without secrecy. Voting is mandatory and turnout is habitually near 100%.

Who said candidates could be nominated by anyone?

In reply to a question put forth by Michael Marshall, Li Chun Sik of North Korea stated at a meeting of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) of the Inter-Parliamentary Union: While candidates could be nominated by anyone, it was the practice for all candidates to be nominated by the parties.

Is North Korea a sham election?

According to official reports, turnout is near 100%, and approval of the Democratic Front's candidates is unanimous or nearly so. North Korean elections have been criticized by many as being sham elections.

How often is the North's parliament elected?

The parliament is elected every five years, turnout is always close to 100% and approval for the governing Workers' Party is unanimous. The North's official news agency KCNA said on Tuesday that this year's turnout was 99.99%, as those "abroad or working in oceans" were unable to participate.

What is the North Korean sister's tomboy streak?

North Korean sister with a 'tomboy streak'. North Korea's parliamentary election is used by Pyongyang to legitimise its rule, but is condemned internationally as a meaningless exercise. Each voting slip has only one state-approved candidate on it.

Is Kim Jong Un's sister a close aide?

North Korea's first sister has become a close aide of Kim Jong-un. Voting in last Sunday's election was mandatory for all North Korean citizens above the age of 17, even though there was no choice of candidates. The parliament is elected every five years, turnout is always close to 100% and approval for the governing Workers' Party is unanimous.

Is Kim Jong Un on the ballot?

North Korea election: Surprise as leader Kim Jong-un ' not on ballot'. North Korea's election has resulted in the expected landslide win for its authoritarian leadership - but in a big first for the country, Kim Jong-un does not appear to have been on the ballot.

Was Kim Yo-Jong elected in 2014?

As for the leader's sister, Ms Lee explained that Kim Yo-jong had not been elected in the previous 2014 election but had since become a member of the SPA, "possibly in a by-election due to someone's death". Ms Kim's profile has been on the rise since 2014, when she was made vice-director of the party's key Propaganda and Agitation Department.

Did Kim Jong Un run for parliament?

North Korea's election has resulted in the expected landslide win for its authoritarian leadership - but in a big first for the country, Kim Jong-un does not appear to have been on the ballot. If confirmed, it would be the first time a North Korean leader has not run for its rubberstamp parliament. The vote did see his sister, Kim Yo-jong, elected ...

How far in advance do you have to register for voting in North Korea?

According to the Telegraph, North Koreans must register one month in advance to participate in the mandatory activity. Defector Mina Yoon told the publication that "the government checks the list of voters and if your name is not on the list, they will investigate it.

How many constituencies are there in North Korea?

This weekend's elections will instruct voters from 687 constituencies to select representative deputies, who will serve on the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) — the country's main legislative body — for the next five years. According to the North Korean Constitution, this is how the state is structured (quotes from an unofficial translation):

What is the highest organ of state power in the DPRK?

Supreme People's Assembly: "The Supreme People's Assembly is the highest organ of State power in the DPRK. The SPA exercises legislative power. When the SPA is not in session, the SPA Presidium also can exercise legislative power."

Where is Kim Il Sung running?

This year, Kim is "running" in Mount Paektu, a mountain town on the Chinese border. Mount Paektu is an inactive volcano where Kim Il-sung was born, according to legend. Kim could use the position in parliament to enact changes within the SPA and possibly alter the constitution. Consequences for not voting are severe.

Is voting a sham in North Korea?

If you suspect that any division in power or nod to democracy in North Korea is a sham, you're right. "Voting" in North Korea i s a mandatory exercise, which serves as both a census and way for officials to keep tabs on the public. The Economist explains:

Is North Korea holding elections?

It's true that North Korea really is holding parliamentary elections this weekend, and, par for the course for that nation's politics, they're kind of horrifying. This is how it's going down.

Is North Korea a totalitarian country?

Just because North Korea is a totalitarian regime doesn't mean it don't have a political structure. Technically, the regime is still led by deceased founder Kim Il-sung, who serves in spirit form as the country's Eternal President.

How many votes does Kim Jong Un need to get out of power?

That's a far cry from the far-reaching powers that, in theory, it does have. A two-thirds majority would be enough to change the constitution and a mere simple majority could remove Kim Jong-un from power.

How often is the parliament elected in North Korea?

Elected every five years, the parliament is the only legislative body North Korea has. "I know that international media often hedge their reporting a bit, saying the SPA has 'little' power or influence - but that's not correct. It has zero," said Mr Tertitskiy.

Why do people cheer in North Korea?

image caption. Cheering is a key skill needed at all kinds of events in North Korea. Once you leave the polling station , you are expected to join the cheering groups outside to express your happiness about having been able to cast your vote for the wise leadership of the country.

Which party is Kim Jong Un in?

The Workers Party, of which Kim Jong-un is the chairman, is by far the biggest but a few seats are usually held by two other parties, the Social Democratic party and the Chondoist Chongu party .

What age do you have to vote in the Korean election?

On election day, the entire population aged 17 or older must come out and vote. "As a sign of loyalty you're expected to turn up early, that means there'll likely be long queues," says North Korea analyst Fyodor Tertitskiy, who is based in the South Korean capital Seoul.

Can you vote in private?

There's also a voting booth where you could vote in private, but doing that would raise immediate suspicion, analysts say.

Is voting for the Supreme People's Assembly mandatory?

Voting for the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) is mandatory and there's no choice of candidates. Any kind of dissent is unheard of.

What is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea?

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a country that keeps its political affairs tightly under the wraps. As a result of this remarkable amount of secrecy, people may have questions about how politics take place in the country, including how its elections work.

Why do defectors in China come back to North Korea?

And if you're wondering about defectors who live outside of North Korea, Yoon told NK News that "defectors in China come back to North Korea risking their lives because they are afraid of possible damages to their family or loved ones left in North Korea when the government figures out that they are missing.".

Is voting no a treason?

The Economist noted that voting "no" or abstaining from voting is seen as the equivalent of a "dangerous act of treason.". Under such a tense process, 687 officials are then selected to the Supreme People’s Assembly in North Korea.

Who picks the candidates for the Reunification of the Fatherland?

Every district has only one candidate for voters to select, CNN reported. This person is handpicked by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, a part of the country's Workers' Party, per The Economist. Privacy for voters is close to none, according to the publication, as dissenting votes are picked out and placed in "a separate ballot box."

Who is Kim Jong Un's father?

Wiener-Bronner also noted that the country is "led in spirit" by current North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's deceased father, Kim Il Sung . The latter passed away in December 2011, leaving an empty seat for his son who now chairs the country's Central Military Commission, the State Affairs Commission, and the North Korean People's Army, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Is voting no in North Korea a treason?

Elections in North Korea reportedly come with a fair bit of consequences, too. The Economist noted that voting "no" or abstaining from voting is seen as the equivalent of a "dangerous act of treason." Under such a tense process, 687 officials are then selected to the Supreme People’s Assembly in North Korea.

When did Kim Jong Un cast his ballot?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un casting a ballot at a polling station at the Kim Il-sung University of Politics in Pyongyang on March 9, 2014. KCNA via EPA

Did everyone turn out to vote in Korea?

Every single registered elector had turned out to vote, the state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, "except for those on foreign tour or working in oceans."

How many positions are on the ballot in North Korea?

As a North Korean citizen you have the duty to vote for well over 600 ‘elected’ positions, from Supreme People’s Assembly (on which Kim sits) all the way down to local community councils and institutional administrators. But there is always only one name on the ballot for each position and there are penalties for not voting.

What happens when a new leader is in charge of the old regime?

Whoever the new person, or group, in charge is, they will most assuredly clean house and eliminate any loyalists or suspected loyalists to the old regime. It happened regularly in the USSR and in China, I see no reason to think it wouldn’t happen in NK as well.

Overview

Procedure

In reply to a question put forth by Michael Marshall, Li Chun Sik of North Korea stated at a meeting of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) of the Inter-Parliamentary Union:
While candidates could be nominated by anyone, it was the practice for all candidates to be nominated by the parties. These nominations were examined by the United Reunification Front and then by the Central Electoral Committee, which allocated candidates to seats. The candidat…

Criticism

Past elections

See also

External links