N. Korean leader not elected as deputy to parliament for first time in N. Korean history
Arirang News
2019-03-12
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北김정은, 최고인민회의 대의원 선거 출마 안한듯... "정상국가 이미지 연출 시도"
North Korea released the results of its parliamentary election held on Sunday.
While the communist state elected nearly 700 deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly, its leader Kim Jong-un was not included in the list -- the first such case in the regime's history.
Oh Jung-hee tells us why.
For the first time in North Korean history, the regime's leader is not a representative in parliament -- a major change from the past.
On Tuesday, North Korea released a list of 687 people elected as deputies to the 14th Supreme People's Assembly -- Pyeongyang's parliament that ratifies decisions made by the ruling party, enacts laws and reviews the state budget.
And on this long list, Kim Jong-un's name was nowhere to be seen, meaning he did not run.
North Korea's leaders have always served in the legislature.
The regime's founder and Kim Jong-un's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, served in the first to the 9th Supreme People's Assemblies,... and Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, did so from the 7th to the 12th.
Kim Jong-un was elected to the 13th assembly five years ago.
Experts say, not electing him to the 14th one could be part of efforts to portray North Korea as a normal country.
"In North Korea, the leaders exert supreme authority, so naturally they have had titles in parliament, in the party, and in the cabinet. But in capitalist countries, this would be weird because it means that the president doubles as a lawmaker. Kim Jong-un is trying to portray North Korea as a normal state and his exclusion this time is part of these efforts."
Kim Jong un's sister Kim Yo-jong, however, was elected as a deputy.
The North's foreign minister Ri Yong-ho and its vice foreign minister Choe Son-hui also made the list.
Other key figures involved in talks with South Korea and the U.S. -- such as Ri Son-gwon and Kim Yong-chol -- have become deputies too.
The Supreme People's Assembly has far less power than the Workers Party itself, so their inclusion changes little in terms of control... but for these key figures, it's another symbol of their authority.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
North Korea released the results of its parliamentary election held on Sunday.
While the communist state elected nearly 700 deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly, its leader Kim Jong-un was not included in the list -- the first such case in the regime's history.
Oh Jung-hee tells us why.
For the first time in North Korean history, the regime's leader is not a representative in parliament -- a major change from the past.
On Tuesday, North Korea released a list of 687 people elected as deputies to the 14th Supreme People's Assembly -- Pyeongyang's parliament that ratifies decisions made by the ruling party, enacts laws and reviews the state budget.
And on this long list, Kim Jong-un's name was nowhere to be seen, meaning he did not run.
North Korea's leaders have always served in the legislature.
The regime's founder and Kim Jong-un's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, served in the first to the 9th Supreme People's Assemblies,... and Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, did so from the 7th to the 12th.
Kim Jong-un was elected to the 13th assembly five years ago.
Experts say, not electing him to the 14th one could be part of efforts to portray North Korea as a normal country.
"In North Korea, the leaders exert supreme authority, so naturally they have had titles in parliament, in the party, and in the cabinet. But in capitalist countries, this would be weird because it means that the president doubles as a lawmaker. Kim Jong-un is trying to portray North Korea as a normal state and his exclusion this time is part of these efforts."
Kim Jong un's sister Kim Yo-jong, however, was elected as a deputy.
The North's foreign minister Ri Yong-ho and its vice foreign minister Choe Son-hui also made the list.
Other key figures involved in talks with South Korea and the U.S. -- such as Ri Son-gwon and Kim Yong-chol -- have become deputies too.
The Supreme People's Assembly has far less power than the Workers Party itself, so their inclusion changes little in terms of control... but for these key figures, it's another symbol of their authority.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
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