Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (2026)

Translated by Hyunseung Lee

Currently a Korean peninsula senior analyst, Hyunseung Lee graduated Summa Cum Laude from Pyongyang Foreign Language School, earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from China’s Dongbei University, and a master’s degree from Columbia University. 

 

[This is a full translation of North Korea’s latest amended constitution for academic purposes. The DPRK promulgated these constitutional revisions in March 2026.]

Preamble

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a people-centered socialist state that represents the interests of the Korean people and struggles for the socialist cause.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea takes the great Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism as the sole guiding principle of state construction and activities, and sets the Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism-ization of the whole society as the overall direction and overall goal of state construction.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea firmly defends and preserves the brilliant traditions established in the glorious revolutionary struggle for the liberation of the homeland and the freedom and happiness of the people, and continuously carries them forward.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea takes as its fundamental principle of state construction and activities: establishing the monolithic leadership system of the leader, adhering to the revolutionary line of independence, and thoroughly embodying the people-first principle.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea organizes and conducts all state affairs in accordance with the leader’s ideas and intentions, and firmly defends and preserves the leader’s ideas on state construction and achievements, continuing to glorify them endlessly.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea establishes an independent stance in state construction and activities, and develops all areas of social life in its own way and by its own efforts.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea places the demands and interests of the popular masses foremost and absolute, and regards the improvement of the people’s well-being as the supreme principle of its activities.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea holds fast to the general line of socialist construction: strengthening the people’s government and raising its functions and role, while thoroughly carrying out the three revolutions of ideology, technology, and culture.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continuously strengthens the unified guidance and management of the people’s government over society as a whole, in accordance with the changes of the times and the demands of revolutionary practice.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea raises the state’s leading role in carrying out the three revolutions to accelerate the revolutionization of all members of society, the advancement of technological and economic power, and the civilization of society as a whole.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea thoroughly implements the class line and mass line to strengthen in every way the single-hearted unity of the whole society, resolves all problems by relying on the patriotic enthusiasm and creativity of the popular masses, and strengthens the people’s democratic dictatorship to reliably defend the socialist system and the rights and interests of the people.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea strengthens the People’s Army, realizes the arming of the entire people and the fortification of the entire country at a higher level, and develops the defense industry to continuously enhance national defense capabilities.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea improves and completes the legal system and strengthens legal life so that the law protects the people and the people abide by the law.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea holds fast to independence, peace, and friendship as the basic principles of its foreign policy, and national interest protection as an unwavering principle, expands and develops external relations, and struggles for world peace and security and the common prosperity of humanity.

 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will firmly hold fast to the Constitution — the true law code of the people and a powerful political weapon for revolution and construction — and will carry through to the end the Juche revolutionary cause.

Chapter 1: Politics

 

Article 1: The name of our state is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 

Article 2: The territory of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea includes the land bordering the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation to the north and the Republic of Korea to the south, as well as the territorial waters and airspace established on the basis thereof. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea absolutely does not permit any encroachment upon its territory.

 

Article 3: A citizen of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a person who holds citizenship of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Citizens receive the protection of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea regardless of their place of residence or stay.

 

Article 4: Sovereignty in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea rests with the working people, including workers, farmers, soldiers, and intellectuals. The working people exercise sovereignty through the Supreme People’s Assembly and local people’s assemblies at all levels, which are their representative organs.

 

Article 5: In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, all state organs are organized and operated according to the principle of democratic centralism.

 

Article 6: The sovereign bodies at all levels, from the Supreme People’s Assembly to the county people’s assemblies, are elected by secret ballot based on the principles of universal, equal, and direct election.

 

Article 7: Deputies to sovereign bodies at all levels maintain close ties with their electors and are accountable to them for their work. Deputies may be recalled at any time if they lose the trust of their electors.

 

Article 8: The social system of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a people-centered social system in which the working popular masses are the masters of everything, and everything in society serves the working popular masses. The state defends the interests of the working people, including workers, farmers, soldiers, and intellectuals, and respects and protects human rights.

 

Article 9: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducts all its activities under the leadership of the Korean Workers’ Party.

 

Article 10: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is based on the political and ideological unity of the entire people who are firmly united around the Korean Workers’ Party. The state strengthens the ideological revolution to revolutionize and working-class-ify all members of society, and transforms the whole of society into a single collective bound together in comradeship.

 

Article 11: The state vigorously launches revolutionary mass movements and patriotic movements, including the Three Revolution Red Flag Movement, to accelerate socialist construction to the maximum.

Article 12: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea defends the democratic national rights and the legitimate rights and interests recognized under international law of Korean compatriots residing abroad.

 

Article 13: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea guarantees the legitimate rights and interests of people of other countries within its territory.

 

Article 14: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea establishes state-level or political, economic, and cultural relations with all countries that treat our country in a friendly manner, on the basis of complete equality and independence, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual benefit. The state solidarizes with the peoples of the world who aspire to independence and justice, opposes all forms of aggression and interference in internal affairs, and actively supports and encourages the struggles of the peoples of all countries to realize national sovereignty and national and class liberation.

 

Article 15: The laws of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are a reflection of the will and interests of the working people and the fundamental instrument of state administration. Respect for and strict observance and enforcement of the law is obligatory for all organs, enterprises, organizations, and citizens.

Chapter 2: Economy

 

Article 16: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is based on socialist relations of production and the foundation of an independent national economy.

Article 17: In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the means of production are owned by the state and social cooperative organizations.

 

Article 18: State ownership is the ownership of the entire people. There are no limits on the objects of state ownership. All natural resources of the country, railways, air transport, postal and telecommunications institutions, major factories, enterprises, ports, banks, and other objects forming the basic lifelines of the national economy are owned solely by the state. The state gives priority to protecting and developing state ownership, which plays the leading role in the nation’s economic development.

 

Article 19: Social cooperative organization ownership is the collective ownership of the working people belonging to the relevant organization. Land, agricultural machinery, boats, small and medium factories, and enterprises may be owned by social cooperative organizations. The state protects social cooperative organization ownership.

 

Article 20: The state raises the ideological consciousness and technological and cultural level of farmers, and in the direction of raising the leading role of all-people ownership over cooperative ownership, organically combines the two forms of ownership and improves guidance and management over cooperative farming to consolidate and develop the socialist cooperative farming system, and in accordance with the voluntary will of all members of cooperative organizations, gradually converts cooperative organization ownership into all-people ownership.

 

Article 21: Personal ownership is ownership for the personal and consumption purposes of citizens. Personal ownership is formed through socialist distribution according to labor and additional benefits from the state and society. Income lawfully obtained by individuals also constitutes personal ownership. The state protects personal ownership and legally guarantees the right of inheritance thereof.

 

Article 22: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea takes as its supreme principle the continuous improvement of the people’s material and cultural life. In our country, all the material wealth of society that increases is entirely devoted to enhancing the well-being of working people. The state strives to provide the people with affluent and civilized living conditions.

 

Article 23: The independent national economy established in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a firm foundation for the happy life of the people and the prosperous development of the homeland. The state holds fast to the line of building an independent national economy and accelerates the Juche-ization, modernization, informatization, and scientification of the people’s economy to make it a highly developed Juche-oriented economy, and struggles to lay the material and technological foundation befitting a society of complete victory of socialism.

 

Article 24: Technological revolution is the key link in developing the socialist economy, and scientific and technological strength is the most important strategic resource of the state. The state raises the leading role of science and technology in all economic activities, integrates science and technology with production, vigorously launches mass technological innovation movements, and accelerates economic construction.

 

Article 25: The state accelerates the rural technological revolution to industrialize and modernize agriculture in order to eliminate differences between the city and the countryside and the class differences between workers and farmers, and strengthens guidance and assistance to rural areas. The state increases state guarantees and support for rural areas to strengthen the material and technological foundation of agriculture and provides excellent living environments for rural residents.

 

Article 26: The state promotes the independent and diversified development of cities and counties to make every city and county a strategic base of a civilized and prosperous socialist power and a developed region with its own unique characteristics. The state ensures that all cities and counties actively develop and usefully utilize the natural resources and economic assets of their regions, accelerate the modernization and informatization of local industrial factories, and guarantee simultaneous and balanced development centered on local characteristics. The state provides the material and technological foundation and conditions for local development, and ensures that localities solidly build up their own strength and potential to achieve firm and sustained development.

 

Article 27: Socialism is built through the patriotic enthusiasm and creative labor of the working masses. In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, labor is the independent and creative labor of working people. The state ensures that the labor of working people becomes more enjoyable and rewarding, working with conscious enthusiasm and creative initiative for society, the collective, and themselves.

 

Article 28: The working day for working people is 8 hours. The state sets the working day shorter than this depending on the degree of difficulty and special conditions of labor. The state ensures that labor time is fully utilized by organizing labor well and strengthening labor discipline.

 

Article 29: In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the working age for citizens starts at 17. The state prohibits the labor of juveniles who have not yet reached working age.

 

Article 30: In the guidance and management of the socialist economy, the state firmly adheres to the principle of correctly combining political guidance with economic and technical guidance, the state’s unified guidance with the initiative of individual units, unified command with democracy, political and moral incentives with material incentives, and ensuring actual benefits.

 

Article 31: The state manages and operates the economy scientifically and rationally on the basis of the collective wisdom and strength of the producer masses, and decisively raises the role of the cabinet. The state implements the socialist enterprise responsibility management system in economic management and ensures the correct use of economic levers such as cost, price, and profitability.

 

Article 32: The people’s economy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a planned economy. The state draws up and implements a plan for the development of the people’s economy in accordance with the laws of socialist economic development, correctly maintaining the balance between accumulation and consumption, in a way that allows acceleration of economic construction, continuous improvement of the people’s living standards, and strengthening of national defense capabilities. The state realizes the unification and detailing of planning to ensure a high rate of production growth and balanced development of the people’s economy.

 

Article 33: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea draws up and implements a state budget in accordance with the people’s economic development plan. The state systematically increases state accumulation and expands and develops socialist ownership by intensifying struggles for increased production and economization in all sectors and strictly implementing financial controls.

 

Article 34: In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, foreign trade is conducted by state organs, enterprises, and social cooperative organizations. The state maintains credibility in foreign trade, improves the structure of trade, and expands and develops external economic relations on the principle of equality and mutual benefit.

 

Article 35: The state encourages joint ventures and cooperation between our country’s organs, enterprises, and organizations and foreign legal entities or individuals, and the establishment and operation of various enterprises in special economic zones.

 

Article 36: The state implements tariff policy to protect the independent national economy.

Chapter 3: Culture

 

Article 37: The socialist culture that is flourishing and developing in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea serves to raise the creative abilities of working people and satisfy their healthy cultural and emotional needs.

 

Article 38: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea thoroughly carries out the cultural revolution to transform all people into builders of socialism equipped with deep knowledge of nature and society and a high level of cultural and technical competence, and accelerates the transformation of all people into science and technology personnel.

 

Article 39: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea builds a genuinely popular and revolutionary culture that serves socialist working people. In building socialist national culture, the state rejects the cultural infiltration of imperialism and protects the national cultural heritage on the principles of Juche, historicism, and scientific accuracy, and carries it forward in a manner consistent with socialist reality.

 

Article 40: The state establishes Juche in scientific research work, actively adopts advanced science and technology, increases state investment in the scientific research sector, pioneers new fields of science and technology, and elevates the country’s science and technology to world-class standards.

Article 41: The state correctly draws up and thoroughly implements plans for scientific and technological development, establishing discipline for their execution, and ensures the strengthening of creative cooperation between scientists, technicians, and producers.

 

Article 42: The state embodies the principles of socialist pedagogy to raise future generations as true patriots who struggle for society, the collective, the homeland, and the people, and as workers in socialist construction equipped with moral, intellectual, and physical qualities.

 

Article 43: The state places public education and the training of national cadres ahead of all other work, and closely combines general education with technical education, and education with productive labor. The state improves the structure, content, and methods of education to develop education into the most superior and ideal education to which the future can be entrusted without worry.

 

Article 44: The state develops universal 12-year compulsory education, including one year of pre-school compulsory education, at a high level consistent with the trends in contemporary scientific and technological development and the demands of socialist construction.

 

Article 45: The state develops full-time educational systems and various forms of educational systems for those who study while working, and continuously improves educational conditions and environments to train capable science and technology personnel.

 

Article 46: The state educates all students free of charge, provides scholarships to university students, and expands and strengthens socialist measures for future generations.

 

Article 47: The state strengthens social education and ensures all the conditions for all working people to study.

 

Article 48: The state raises pre-school children in nurseries and kindergartens at the expense of the state and society.

 

Article 49: The state consolidates and develops the socialist public health system, improves the quality of medical services, and strengthens the material and technological foundation of the public health sector to protect people’s lives and improve the health of working people.

 

Article 50: The state develops Juche-oriented and revolutionary literature and art with socialist content in national form. The state ensures that writers and artists create many works of high ideological and artistic merit and that broad masses actively participate in literary and artistic activities.

 

Article 51: The state provides sufficient modern cultural facilities to meet the needs of people who continuously seek spiritual and physical development, so that all working people can enjoy socialist cultural and emotional life to their heart’s content.

 

Article 52: The state makes physical culture popular and part of everyday life to thoroughly prepare the entire people for labor and national defense, and develops sports techniques in accordance with the actual conditions of our country and the trends in the development of modern sports technology.

 

Article 53: The state creates and develops a revolutionary and noble socialist cultural life and intensifies the struggle against phenomena that run counter to the socialist way of life.

 

Article 54: The state ensures that all members of society maintain Juche and national character in their linguistic life, protecting and actively preserving the Pyongyang cultural language.

 

Article 55: The state establishes environmental protection measures before production, preserves and creates the natural environment, and prevents environmental pollution, providing the people with culturally hygienic living environments and working conditions.

Chapter 4: National Defense

 

Article 56: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea relies on an all-people, all-state defense system for national defense. As a responsible nuclear-armed state, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continuously advances nuclear weapons development to guarantee the country’s right to existence and development, deter war, and safeguard peace and stability in the region and the world.

 

Article 57: The mission of the armed forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is to defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the rights and interests of the people, to safeguard the socialist system and the gains of the revolution from all threats, and to guarantee the peace and prosperity of the homeland through powerful military strength.

 

Article 58: The state implements a self-reliant military line whose basic content is the cadre-ization of the entire army, the modernization of the entire army, the arming of the entire people, and the fortification of the entire country, on the basis of arming the people and soldiers of the People’s Army politically and ideologically.

 

Article 59: The state establishes a revolutionary command system and military conduct within the army, strengthens military discipline and mass discipline, and ensures the noble traditional virtues of officer-soldier unity, civil-military integration, and army-people unity are highly upheld.

 

Article 60: The state develops national defense science and technology and continuously raises the level of Juche-ization, modernization, and scientification of the defense industry.

 

Article 61: The state establishes throughout society a climate of prioritizing military affairs and ensures thorough preparation for all-people warfare.

Chapter 5: Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens

 

Article 62: In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the rights and duties of citizens are based on the collectivist principle of “one for all and all for one.”

 

Article 63: The state substantially guarantees all citizens true democratic rights and freedoms and a happy material and cultural life. In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the rights and freedoms of citizens expand further as the socialist system is consolidated and developed.

 

Article 64: Citizens have equal rights in all areas of state and social life.

 

Article 65: All citizens aged 18 and above have the right to vote and the right to be elected, regardless of sex, ethnicity, occupation, length of residence, property or level of education, party affiliation, political views, or religious belief. Citizens serving in the military also have the right to vote and the right to be elected. Those deprived of the right to vote by a court judgment and those with mental disabilities do not have the right to vote or to be elected.

 

Article 66: Citizens have freedom of speech, press, assembly, demonstration, and association. The state guarantees the conditions for the free activities of democratic political parties and social organizations.

 

Article 67: Citizens have freedom of religious belief. This right is guaranteed by permitting the construction of religious buildings and the conduct of religious rituals and the like. Religion may not be used to bring in foreign forces or harm the state and social order.

 

Article 68: Citizens may submit complaints and petitions. The state ensures that complaints and petitions are fairly reviewed and processed in accordance with the law.

 

Article 69: Citizens have the right to work. All citizens with the ability to work choose occupations according to their wishes and abilities and are guaranteed stable employment and working conditions. Citizens work according to their abilities and receive distribution according to the quantity and quality of their labor.

 

Article 70: Citizens have the right to rest. This right is guaranteed by the working hours system, the public holiday system, the paid leave system, the recreation and recuperation system, and various cultural facilities.

 

Article 71: Citizens have the right to receive medical treatment, and elderly people, those who have lost their ability to work due to illness or physical disability, and elderly people and children without anyone to care for them have the right to receive material assistance. This right is guaranteed by ever-increasing modern medical facilities and the state social insurance and social security system.

 

Article 72: Citizens have the right to education. This right is guaranteed by the advanced educational system and the state’s people-oriented educational policies.

 

Article 73: Citizens have freedom of scientific and literary-artistic activities. The state gives preferential treatment to citizens who contribute to the development of science and literature and the arts. The state legally protects citizens’ intellectual property rights.

 

Article 74: Citizens have freedom of residence and travel.

 

Article 75: Heroes, war veterans, meritorious persons in wartime, disabled veterans, families of revolutionary martyrs, families of patriotic martyrs, bereaved families of martyrs who participated in overseas military operations, patriotic meritorious persons of socialist construction, discharged generals and colonels, officers of multiple generations, and families of rear-area personnel of the People’s Army receive special protection from the state and society.

 

Article 76: Women hold the same social status and rights as men. The state gives special protection to mothers and children through guaranteeing maternity leave before and after childbirth, preferential treatment for mothers with many children, expansion of maternity hospitals, nurseries, and kindergarten networks, and other measures. The state creates all conditions for women to advance into society.

 

Article 77: Marriage and the family are protected by the state. The state pays deep attention to strengthening the family, which is the basic unit of social life.

 

Article 78: Citizens are guaranteed the inviolability of the person and the home, and the secrecy of correspondence. Citizens may not be detained or arrested, and homes may not be searched, without legal basis.

 

Article 79: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea protects persons of other countries who have sought asylum after struggling for peace and democracy, national independence and socialism, and freedom of scientific and cultural activities.

 

Article 80: Citizens must firmly defend the political and ideological unity and solidarity of the people. Citizens must cherish their organizations and collective, and give full expression to the spirit of dedicating themselves to society and the people.

 

Article 81: Citizens must observe the laws of the state and the socialist norms of life, and uphold the honor and dignity of being citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 

Article 82: Labor is the sacred duty and honor of citizens. Citizens must conscientiously and faithfully participate in labor and strictly observe labor discipline and working hours.

 

Article 83: Citizens must cherish and love state property and the property of social cooperative organizations, struggle against all phenomena of corruption and waste, and manage the livelihood of the country in a masterly and thrifty manner. State and social cooperative organization property is sacrosanct and inviolable.

 

Article 84: Citizens must always heighten revolutionary vigilance and dedicate themselves to safeguarding state security.

 

Article 85: Defending the homeland is the greatest duty and honor of citizens. Citizens must defend the homeland and serve in the armed forces as prescribed by law.

Chapter 6: State Organs

 

Section 1: Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

 

Article 86: The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the head of state representing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 

Article 87: The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is elected at the Supreme People’s Assembly in accordance with the general will of the entire Korean people. The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is not elected as a deputy to the Supreme People’s Assembly.

 

Article 88: The term of office of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

 

Article 89: The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea serves as the Supreme Commander of the armed forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and commands and controls all armed forces of the state. The authority to command the nuclear forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea rests with the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea may also delegate the authority to use nuclear forces to the state nuclear force command organ.

 

Article 90: The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has the following powers:

1. Guides the overall affairs of the state.
2. During recess of the Supreme People’s Assembly, suspends the work of, or appoints or dismisses, important state officials including the Chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly and the Premier of the Cabinet.
3. Causes the resignation of deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly who have lost the trust of the people.
4. Exercises the right of veto over laws, ordinances, decisions, and directives adopted by the Supreme People’s Assembly or the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly when they do not conform to the development of the state and the demands of the people.
5. Confers state commendations on outstanding meritorious subjects.
6. Receives the credentials of diplomatic representatives of other countries.
7. Appoints or recalls diplomatic representatives stationed in other countries.
8. Ratifies or abrogates important treaties concluded with other countries.
9. Exercises the right of special pardon.
10. Declares a state of emergency, state of war, and general mobilization in the country.
11. Organizes and guides the State Defense Commission during wartime.

 

Article 91: The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea issues orders and decrees.

 

Section 2: Supreme People’s Assembly

 

Article 92: The Supreme People’s Assembly is the highest sovereign organ of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 

Article 93: The Supreme People’s Assembly exercises legislative power. During the recess of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly may also exercise legislative power.

 

Article 94: The Supreme People’s Assembly is composed of deputies elected by secret ballot based on the principles of universal, equal, and direct election.

 

Article 95: The term of the Supreme People’s Assembly is five years. New elections for the Supreme People’s Assembly are held before the end of its term in accordance with a decision of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly. If elections cannot be held due to unavoidable circumstances, the term is extended until elections can be held.

 

Article 96: The Supreme People’s Assembly has the following powers:

1. Amends and supplements the Constitution.
2. Enacts, amends, and supplements sectoral laws.
3. Approves important sectoral laws adopted by the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly during the recess of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
4. Establishes the basic principles of domestic and foreign policy of the state.
5. Elects the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
6. On the proposal of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, elects or recalls the First Vice Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and Members of the State Affairs Commission.
7. Elects or recalls the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
8. Elects or recalls the Secretary General and Members of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
9. Elects or recalls the Premier of the Cabinet.
10. On the proposal of the Premier of the Cabinet, appoints or dismisses the First Vice Premier, Vice Premiers, Chairmen, Ministers, and other Cabinet members.
11. Appoints or dismisses the Procurator General of the Supreme Procuratorate.
12. Elects or recalls the President of the Supreme Court.
13. Elects or recalls the Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and Members of the sectoral committees of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
14. Reviews and approves reports on the state’s people’s economic development plan and the status of its implementation.
15. Reviews and approves reports on the state budget and the status of its execution.
16. Creates or abolishes Cabinet committees and ministries.
17. Receives reports on the work of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the Cabinet, the Supreme Procuratorate, and the Supreme Court, and establishes countermeasures.
18. Decides on the ratification or abrogation of treaties submitted to the Supreme People’s Assembly.

 

Article 97: The Supreme People’s Assembly holds regular and extraordinary sessions. Regular sessions are convened twice a year by the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly. Extraordinary sessions are convened when the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly deems it necessary or when requested by more than one-third of all deputies.

 

Article 98: The Supreme People’s Assembly is constituted when more than two-thirds of all deputies are present.

 

Article 99: The Supreme People’s Assembly is chaired by the Chairman, and in the absence of the Chairman, by the Vice Chairman.

 

Article 100: Agenda items for deliberation at the Supreme People’s Assembly are submitted by the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the State Affairs Commission, the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the Cabinet, and the sectoral committees of the Supreme People’s Assembly. Deputies may also submit agenda items.

 

Article 101: The Supreme People’s Assembly issues laws and decisions. Laws and decisions issued by the Supreme People’s Assembly are adopted when more than half of the deputies present at the session vote in favor. The Constitution is amended and supplemented when more than two-thirds of all deputies of the Supreme People’s Assembly vote in favor.

 

Article 102: The Supreme People’s Assembly has sectoral committees such as the Legislative Committee, Budget Committee, and Foreign Affairs Committee. The sectoral committees of the Supreme People’s Assembly are composed of a chairman, vice chairmen, and members. The sectoral committees of the Supreme People’s Assembly assist in the work of the Supreme People’s Assembly by drafting and deliberating on state policy proposals and draft laws, and formulating measures for their implementation. The sectoral committees of the Supreme People’s Assembly work under the guidance of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly during its recess.

 

Article 103: Deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly are guaranteed immunity from arrest. Deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly may not be arrested or subjected to criminal punishment without the approval of the Supreme People’s Assembly, or during its recess, the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, except in cases of flagrante delicto.

Section 3: State Affairs Commission

 

Article 104: The State Affairs Commission is the highest policy-guiding organ of state sovereignty.

 

Article 105: The State Affairs Commission is composed of a Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and Members.

 

Article 106: The term of the State Affairs Commission is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

 

Article 107: The State Affairs Commission has the following duties and powers:

1. Deliberates on and decides important state policies.
2. Supervises the implementation of orders and decrees of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and decisions and directives of the State Affairs Commission, and establishes countermeasures.
3. Abolishes decisions and directives of state organs that are contrary to the orders, decrees, decisions, and directives of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and the decisions and directives of the State Affairs Commission.
4. During the recess of the Supreme People’s Assembly, on the proposal of the Premier of the Cabinet, appoints or dismisses the First Vice Premier, Vice Premiers, Chairmen, Ministers, and other Cabinet members.

 

Article 108: The State Affairs Commission issues decisions and directives.

Section 4: Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly

 

Article 109: The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly is the highest sovereign organ during the recess of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

 

Article 110: The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly is composed of a Chairman, Vice Chairmen, Secretary General, and Members. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly concurrently serve as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

 

Article 111: The term of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly. The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly continues to perform its duties after the expiration of the term of the Supreme People’s Assembly until a new Presidium is elected.

 

Article 112: The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly has the following duties and powers:

1. Convenes the Supreme People’s Assembly.
2. During the recess of the Supreme People’s Assembly, reviews and adopts new sectoral law drafts and regulation drafts, and amendments and supplements to existing sectoral laws and regulations, and submits important sectoral laws adopted and implemented to the next session of the Supreme People’s Assembly for approval.
3. In cases of unavoidable circumstances during a recess, reviews and approves the state’s people’s economic development plan, the state budget, and adjustment proposals.
4. Interprets the Constitution, current sectoral laws, and regulations.
5. Supervises the law observance and enforcement of state organs and establishes countermeasures.
6. Abolishes decisions and directives of state organs that are contrary to the Constitution, orders and decrees of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, laws and decisions of the Supreme People’s Assembly, decisions and directives of the State Affairs Commission, and ordinances, decisions, and directives of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly; and suspends the implementation of incorrect decisions of local people’s assemblies.
7. Conducts work for the election of deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly and organizes the election work for deputies to local people’s assemblies.
8. Works with deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly.
9. Works with the sectoral committees of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
10. During the recess of the Supreme People’s Assembly, creates or abolishes Cabinet committees and ministries.
11. During the recess of the Supreme People’s Assembly, elects or recalls Vice Chairmen of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the Secretary General and Members of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and members of sectoral committees of the Supreme People’s Assembly; and appoints or dismisses members of sectoral committees of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
12. Elects or recalls judges and people’s assessors of the Supreme Court.
13. Decides on the ratification or abrogation of treaties submitted to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
14. Guides the sovereign activities of local people’s committees.
15. Establishes orders, medals, honorary titles, and diplomatic ranks; and confers orders, medals, and honorary titles.
16. Exercises the right of amnesty.
17. Creates or changes administrative units and administrative regions.
18. Conducts external activities, including work with the national assemblies of other countries and international parliamentary bodies.

 

Article 113: The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly holds plenary meetings and standing committee meetings. The plenary meeting is composed of all members, and the standing committee meeting is composed of the Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and Secretary General. Important matters in the exercise of the duties and powers of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly are deliberated and decided at plenary meetings, and other matters at standing committee meetings.

 

Article 114: The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly issues ordinances, decisions, and directives.

 

Article 115: The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly may establish sectoral committees to assist in its work.

 

Article 116: The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly is accountable to the Supreme People’s Assembly for its work.

Section 5: Cabinet

 

Article 117: The Cabinet is the administrative and executive organ of state sovereignty and the general state management organ.

 

Article 118: The Cabinet is composed of the Premier, First Vice Premier, Vice Premiers, Chairmen, Ministers, and other necessary members. The term of the Cabinet is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

 

Article 119: The Cabinet has the following duties and powers:

1. Establishes measures to implement state policies.
2. Based on the Constitution and sectoral laws, enacts, amends, and supplements regulations related to state administration.
3. Guides the work of Cabinet committees and ministries, organs directly under the Cabinet, and local people’s assemblies.
4. Creates or abolishes organs directly under the Cabinet, major administrative and economic organs, and enterprises, and establishes measures to improve the state administration apparatus.
5. Draws up the state’s people’s economic development plan and establishes measures for its implementation.
6. Draws up the state budget and establishes measures for its execution.
7. Organizes and executes the work of industry, agriculture, construction, transport, communications, commerce, trade, land management, urban administration, education, science, culture, public health, physical culture, labor administration, environmental protection, tourism, and other various sectors.
8. Establishes measures to strengthen the currency and banking system.
9. Conducts inspection and control work to establish state administration order.
10. Establishes measures for maintaining social order, protecting the property and interests of the state and social cooperative organizations, and guaranteeing the rights of citizens.
11. Concludes treaties with other countries and conducts external work.
12. Abolishes decisions and directives of administrative and economic organs that are contrary to Cabinet decisions, administrative orders, and directives.

 

Article 120: The Premier of the Cabinet organizes and guides the work of the Cabinet. The Premier of the Cabinet represents the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 

Article 121: The Cabinet holds plenary meetings and standing committee meetings. The Cabinet plenary meeting is composed of all Cabinet members, and the standing committee meeting is composed of the Premier, First Vice Premier, Vice Premiers, and other Cabinet members appointed by the Premier.

 

Article 122: The Cabinet issues decisions, administrative orders, and directives.

 

Article 123: The Cabinet may establish non-standing sectoral committees to assist in its work.

 

Article 124: The Cabinet is accountable to the Supreme People’s Assembly and, during its recess, to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, for its work.

 

Article 125: A newly elected Premier of the Cabinet takes an oath at the Supreme People’s Assembly on behalf of Cabinet members.

 

Article 126: Cabinet committees and ministries are the sectoral executive organs of the Cabinet and the central sectoral management organs.

 

Article 127: Cabinet committees and ministries, under the guidance of the Cabinet, take unified charge of and guide and manage the work of the relevant sector.

 

Article 128: Cabinet committees and ministries operate committee meetings and executive meetings. At committee meetings and executive meetings, countermeasures for implementing Cabinet decisions, administrative orders, and directives, and other important matters, are deliberated and decided.

 

Article 129: Cabinet committees, ministries, and organs directly under the Cabinet that perform sectoral management functions issue directives.

Section 6: Local People’s Assemblies

Article 130: Provincial (or directly governed city), city (or district), and county people’s assemblies are local sovereign organs.

 

Article 131: Local people’s assemblies are composed of deputies elected by secret ballot based on the principles of universal, equal, and direct election.

 

Article 132: The term of provincial (or directly governed city), city (or district), and county people’s assemblies is four years. New elections for local people’s assemblies are held before the end of their term in accordance with a decision of the relevant local people’s committee. If elections cannot be held due to unavoidable circumstances, the term is extended until elections can be held.

 

Article 133: Local people’s assemblies have the following duties and powers:

1. Review and approve reports on local people’s economic development plans and the status of their implementation.
2. Review and approve reports on local budgets and their execution.
3. Establish measures for implementing state laws in the relevant area.
4. Elect or recall the Chairman, Vice Chairmen, Secretary, and Members of the relevant people’s committee.
5. Abolish incorrect decisions and directives of the relevant people’s committee and of lower-level people’s assemblies and people’s committees.
6. Receive reports on the work of the relevant people’s committee and the organs at the provincial (or directly governed city), city (or district), and county level, and establish countermeasures.

 

Article 134: Local people’s assemblies hold regular and extraordinary sessions. Regular sessions are convened one to two times a year by the relevant people’s committee. Extraordinary sessions are convened when the relevant people’s committee deems it necessary or when requested by more than one-third of all deputies.

 

Article 135: Local people’s assemblies are constituted when more than two-thirds of all deputies are present.

 

Article 136: Local people’s assemblies elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman. The Chairman chairs the sessions. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman chairs the sessions.

 

Article 137: Local people’s assemblies issue decisions.

Section 7: Local People’s Committees

 

Article 138: Provincial (or directly governed city), city (or district), and county people’s committees are local sovereign organs during the recess of the relevant people’s assembly and the administrative and executive organs of the relevant local sovereign authority.

 

Article 139: Local people’s committees are composed of a Chairman, Vice Chairmen, Secretary, and Members. The term of local people’s committees is the same as that of the relevant people’s assembly.

 

Article 140: Local people’s committees have the following duties and powers:

1. Convene people’s assemblies.
2. Conduct work for the election of deputies to people’s assemblies.
3. Work with deputies to people’s assemblies.
4. During the recess of people’s assemblies, elect or recall Vice Chairmen, the Secretary, and Members of the relevant people’s committee.
5. During the recess of people’s assemblies, elect or recall judges and people’s assessors of the relevant court.
6. Implement orders and decrees of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, laws and decisions of the Supreme People’s Assembly, decisions and directives of the State Affairs Commission, ordinances, decisions, and directives of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, decisions, administrative orders, and directives of the Cabinet, directives of Cabinet committees and ministries and organs directly under the Cabinet performing sectoral management functions, and decisions and directives of the relevant local people’s assembly and higher-level people’s assemblies.
7. Organize and execute all administrative affairs of the relevant locality.
8. Draw up local people’s economic development plans and establish measures for their implementation.
9. Draw up local budgets and establish measures for their execution.
10. Establish measures for maintaining social order, protecting the property and interests of the state and social cooperative organizations, and guaranteeing the rights of citizens in the relevant locality.
11. Conduct inspection and control work to establish state administration order in the relevant locality.
12. Guide the work of lower-level people’s committees.
13. Abolish incorrect decisions and directives of lower-level people’s committees and suspend the implementation of incorrect decisions of lower-level people’s assemblies.

 

Article 141: Local people’s committees hold plenary meetings and standing committee meetings. Plenary meetings of local people’s committees are composed of all members, and standing committee meetings are composed of the Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and Secretary. Important matters in the exercise of the duties and powers of local people’s committees are deliberated and decided at plenary meetings, and other matters at standing committee meetings.

Article 142: Local people’s committees issue decisions and directives.

 

Article 143: Local people’s committees may establish non-standing sectoral committees to assist in their work.

 

Article 144: Local people’s committees are accountable to the relevant people’s assembly for their work. Local people’s committees work under the guidance of higher-level people’s committees, the Cabinet, and the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

Section 8: Procuratorates and Courts

 

Article 145: The Procuratorate is the law-compliance monitoring and prosecution organ of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 

Article 146: Procuratorial work is conducted by the Supreme Procuratorate, provincial (or directly governed city), city (or district), and county procuratorates, and special procuratorates.

 

Article 147: The term of the Procurator General of the Supreme Procuratorate is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

 

Article 148: Procurators are appointed or dismissed by the Supreme Procuratorate.

 

Article 149: The Procuratorate performs the following duties:

1. Monitors whether organs, enterprises, organizations, and citizens strictly observe the laws of the state.
2. Monitors whether the decisions and directives of state organs conform to the Constitution, orders and decrees of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, laws and decisions of the Supreme People’s Assembly, decisions and directives of the State Affairs Commission, and ordinances, decisions, directives, decisions, administrative orders, and directives of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly and the Cabinet.
3. Protects the sovereignty of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the socialist system, the property of the state and social cooperative organizations, and the constitutional rights and lives and property of the people by detecting criminals and other law violators and pursuing their legal accountability.

 

Article 150: Procuratorial work is uniformly guided by the Supreme Procuratorate, and all procuratorates are subordinate to higher-level procuratorates and the Supreme Procuratorate.

 

Article 151: The Supreme Procuratorate issues directives.

 

Article 152: The Supreme Procuratorate is accountable to the Supreme People’s Assembly and, during its recess, to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, for its work.

 

Article 153: Courts are the judicial organs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 

Article 154: Judicial work is conducted by the Supreme Court, provincial (or directly governed city) courts, city (or district) and county people’s courts, and special courts. Verdicts are pronounced in the name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 

Article 155: The term of the President of the Supreme Court is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly. The terms of judges and people’s assessors of the Supreme Court, provincial (or directly governed city) courts, and city (or district) and county people’s courts are the same as the terms of the relevant people’s assemblies.

 

Article 156: The President and judges of special courts are appointed or dismissed by the Supreme Court.

 

Article 157: Courts perform the following duties:

1. Through judicial activities, protect the sovereignty of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the socialist system, the property of the state and social cooperative organizations, and the constitutional rights and lives and property of the people.
2. Ensure that all organs, enterprises, organizations, and citizens strictly observe the laws of the state and actively struggle against class enemies and all law violators.
3. Execute judgments and rulings on property matters and conduct notarial work.

 

Article 158: Trials are conducted by a court composed of one judge and two people’s assessors. In special cases, trials may be conducted by a court composed of three judges.

 

Article 159: Trials are held in public and the right of defense of the accused is guaranteed. Trials may be held in closed session as prescribed by law.

 

Article 160: Trials are conducted in the Korean language. Persons of other countries may use their own language in court.

 

Article 161: Courts are independent in trials and conduct judicial activities in accordance with the law.

 

Article 162: The Supreme Court is the highest judicial organ of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Supreme Court supervises the judicial work of all courts.

 

Article 163: The Supreme Court issues directives.

 

Article 164: The Supreme Court is accountable to the Supreme People’s Assembly and, during its recess, to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, for its work.

Chapter 7: National Emblem, National Flag, National Anthem, and Capital

 

Article 165: The national emblem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea features a grand hydroelectric power station within an oval frame of sheaves of rice bound with a red ribbon inscribed with “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” above which are the sacred mountain of the revolution, Mount Paektu, and a brilliantly shining red five-pointed star.

 

Article 166: The national flag of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has a wide red stripe in the center of the flag, with narrow white stripes above and below it, followed by blue stripes, and a red five-pointed star within a white circle on the side attached to the flagpole of the red stripe. The ratio of the width to the length of the national flag is 1:1.65.

 

Article 167: The national anthem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a patriotic hymn of the entire people, containing the conviction and will to patriotism to guard and forever glorify, generation after generation, the beautiful nature of our homeland, its long history, brilliant culture, and glorious tradition of struggle, and to make the socialist homeland, under the leadership of the Korean Workers’ Party, an eternal land of the people and a world-class powerful state proclaimed to all directions.

 

Article 168: The capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is Pyongyang.

 

 

[END]

 

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