Korea, North Government

What is the capital of Korea, North?

Country Name	North Korea
Full Country Name	Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Abbreviation	DPRK
Local - Long	Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
Local - Short	Choson
Etymology- history of name	derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the North Korean name "Choson" means "[land of the] morning calm"
Government Type	communist state
Capital Name	Pyongyang
Capital - geographic coordinate	39 01 N, 125 45 E
Capital Time Difference	UTC+8.5 (13.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) note: on 15 August 2015, North Korea reverted to UTC+8.5, a time zone that had been observed during pre-colonial times
Independence	15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National Holiday	Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Constitution	previous 1948, 1972; latest adopted 1998 (during KIM Jong Il era); revised 2009, 2012, 2013

Korea, North Capital City Map

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Korea, North Government and Politics

Who is the president of Korea, North?

Executive Branch:

chief of state: Supreme People's Assembly President CHOE Ryong Hae (since 11 April 2019); note - functions as the technical head of state and performs related duties, such as receiving ambassadors' credentials

head of government: State Affairs Commission Chairman KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011); note - functions as the commander-in-chief and chief executive

cabinet: Cabinet or Naegak members appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly except the Minister of People's Armed Forces

elections/appointments: chief of state and premier indirectly elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held on 10 March 2019 (next election March 2024)

election results: KIM Jong In reelected unopposed

note: the Korean Workers' Party continues to list deceased leaders KIM Il Sung and KIM Jong Il as Eternal President and Eternal General Secretary respectively

Citizenship Criteria:

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Legal System:

civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Legislative Branch:

description: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members directly elected by majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 5-year terms); note - the Korean Workers' Party selects all candidates

elections: last held on 10 March 2019 (next to be held March 2024)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KWP 607, KSDP 50, Chondoist Chongu Party 22, General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) 5, religious associations 3; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; composition - men 575, women 112, percent of women 16.3%

note: KWP, KSDP, Chondoist Chongu Party, and Chongryon are under the KWP's control; a token number of seats reserved for minor parties

Judicial Branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 "People's Assessors" and for some cases, 3 judges)

judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Supreme People's Assembly for 5-year terms

subordinate courts: provincial, municipal, military, special courts; people' courts (lowest level)

Regions or States:

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities (si, singular and plural)

provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P'yongbuk (North Pyongan), P'yongnam (South Pyongan), Ranggang

cities: P'yongyang, Rason

note: Rason is sometimes designated as a special city and P'yongyang as a capital city

Political Parties and Leaders:

major party: Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Un]

minor parties: Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control)

Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International Organization Participation:

ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

Diplomatic Representation from US:

none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power

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