The Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea consists of a preamble and 172 articles organized into seven chapters as of 11 April 2019. The constitution is considered as unique for combining strong
socialist and
nationalist tendencies as well as referencing the country's
Juche ideology.
Preamble The preamble describes North Korea, which has the official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as a "people-centered socialist state" that "represents the interests of the Korean people and struggles for the socialist cause".
Chapter 1 – Politics Chapter 1 of the Constitution consists of 18 articles that outline the political structure of North Korea. Article 1 states that North Korea, which has an official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Article 2 states that the DPRK's territory "includes the territory 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 seas and airspace established thereon." Article 3 makes
Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism as the country's guide for its activities, while Article 11 makes the
Workers' Party of Korea lead all of the country's activities. Article 4 gives the sovereignty of the country to the working people consisting of workers, peasants, soldiers and talented personnel who exercise it through their representatives in the
Supreme People's Assembly and local people's assemblies organized in the nation's administrative divisions. Articles 20 to 23 states that the
means of production are owned by the state and social cooperatives, and lists provisions for state and social cooperative properties. Article 41 provides that this socialist culture is popular and revolutionary. Article 59 lists the mission of the
North Korean armed forces as to defend the
Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by
Kim Jong Un, as well as the interests of the working people, the socialist system, the gains of the revolution and the freedom, peace and independence of the country from foreign aggression. Article 63 states that the rights and duties of North Korean citizens are based on the collectivist principle of "one for all and all for one", with Article 64 guaranteeing the rights and well-being of citizens as well as expanding their rights and freedom based on the consolidation and development of the socialist system. Section 2 describes the
Supreme People's Assembly as the highest institution of state power that exercises legislative power. It consists of deputies elected through universal, equal and direct suffrage through secret ballot for a five-year term. It has the power to amend the constitution, adopt or amend laws, elect or recall the
President of the State Affairs Commission, the members of the
State Affairs Commission, the
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, the members of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, the
Premier, the members of the
Cabinet, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office, the President and Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court, approve the state plan for national economic development, approve the national budget, and ratify or annul treaties presented to it. Section 3 describes the
State Affairs Commission as the supreme policy-oriented leadership institution consisting of the President, vice-presidents and members. The commission decides on important state policies, issue decisions and directives, and supervise the fulfillment of the orders of the president of the Commission and the SAC decisions and directives. Section 4 describes the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly as the highest institution of state power when the Supreme People's Assembly is in recess. The SC-SPA consists of the Chairman of the Standing Committee, vice-chairmen of the committee and members assigned from among deputies of the Assembly and has the power to exercise legislative power, convene sessions of the Supreme People's Assembly, interpret the constitution, supervise the observance of legislative acts, organize elections, appoint or remove members of the Cabinet and judges and people's assessors of the Supreme Court, approve or nullify treaties, decide on the appointment and recall of diplomatic representatives to the Republic, institute and confer decorations, medals and honors in the name of the Republic and grant general amnesty. The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the SPA is tasked to receive the credentials and letters of recall of foreign diplomatic representatives to the Republic upon full consent of the office of the presidency of the SAC. Section 5 describes the Cabinet as the administrative and executive institutions of state power responsible for overall state management. It is headed by the
Premier, and consists of the first vice premier, vice-premiers, chairmen, ministers and other required members. It is responsible for implementing state policies, drafting the state plan for national economic development and compiling the national budget. The Cabinet and its composition is appointed and relieved by the SPA and/or its Standing Committee. Section 6 describes the local people's assemblies as the local organs of state power in provinces, municipalities, cities, district and counties and provide limited legislative power to the aformentioned especially in regards to local policies, while Section 7 describes the local people's committees as local organs of state power when the local people's assemblies are not in session and as local administrative and executive institutions of state power, whose leaders are assigned from within the LPAs. The Chairman of a regional or local LPC is appointed and relieved from his or her post by the LPAs and serves as the local chief executive of the level of administrative division of his/her supervision. Section 8 provides the power of investigation and prosecution to provincial and local level public prosecutors offices under the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office, and the judicial power to the courts under the Supreme Court.
Chapter 7 – Emblem, Flag, Anthem and Capital Chapter 7 of the Constitution consists of four articles that designate the national symbols of North Korea. Article 169 provides descriptions for the
national emblem, while Article 170 provides descriptions for the
national flag. Article 171 states that "
Aegukka" as the national anthem. Article 172 states that
Pyongyang is the national capital. ==Amendments==