State Affairs Commission of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
조선민주주의인민공화국 국무위원회
Emblem of the president of the State Affairs Commission
Agency overview
Formed29 June 2016
Preceding agency
TypeSupreme policy-oriented leadership body
JurisdictionGovernment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
HeadquartersGovernment Complex No. 1, Pyongyang
Agency executives
DPRK State Affairs Commission
Chosŏn'gŭl
조선민주주의인민공화국 국무위원회
Hancha
朝鮮民主主義人民共和國國務委員會
Revised RomanizationJoseon minjujuui inmin gonghwaguk gungmu wiwonhoe
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn minjujuŭi inmin konghwaguk kungmu wiwŏnhoe

The State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SAC) is constitutionally the supreme political authority of North Korea.[1] The State Affairs Commission was created by 2016 amendments to the North Korean Constitution to replace the previously military-dominated National Defence Commission.

The body is headed by the President of the State Affairs Commission, commonly styled in official North Korean released as "President of State Affairs", who is defined as the head of state of the nation and the supreme leader.[1]

The current President is Kim Jong Un. The first vice-president is Choe Ryong-hae, who is also the Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee.

History

The predecessor body, National Defence Commission, was created in 1972 as sub-committee for defence and security affairs of the Supreme People's Committee, the later was headed by the President of the DPRK Kim Il Sung and exercised similar powers within the constitutional framework of the 1972 Constitution of North Korea.

The National Defence Commission was separated from the Supreme People's Committee in 1992 and Kim Jong Il was officially designated as chair of the body. In 1998, two years after the death of Kim Il Sung, the National Defence Commission was empowered as the supreme defence body, and in line with the Songun ideology, the supreme political authority of state and legal framework for Kim Jong Il's personal dictatorship.

After the 7th Congress of the Workers Party of Korea, the constitution was amended in June 2016 that reformed the National Defence Commission into the contemporary State Affairs Commission, with the amended text stipulating the body's control over national policy.

Powers and responsibilities

Article 106 of the Constitution of North Korea defines the State Affairs Commission as the supreme state organ of policy direction of state sovereignty.[2] Article 109 of the Constitution states that the SAC's powers are to:[3] [4]

  • deliberate and decide on major policies of the State including defence and security policies;
  • exercise supervision over the fulfillment of the orders of the President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the decisions and directives of the Commission, and take measures for their fulfillment;
  • abrogate decisions and directives of State organs which run counter to the orders of the President of the SAC-DPRK and the decisions and directives of the Commission in its meetings.

In practice, SAC supervises the Cabinet of North Korea. It also directly supervises the three ministries that are not under the Cabinet, namely the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Social Security as well as the Korean People's Army, mainly the General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army and General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army. The Supreme Guard Command which is responsible for the top leadership and government protection is also under its command. One additional entity, the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission(국가체육지도위원회), is also under the SAC as its Chairman is appointed by the Commission.[5][6]

Members

The following are the current members of the State Affairs Commission as of 29 September 2021:[7][8][9]

President of the State Affairs Commission
President Political party Member since Other positions
Kim Jong Un
김정은
(born 1984)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 June 2016
First Vice President of the State Affairs Commission
First Vice President Political party Member since Other positions
Choe Ryong-hae
최룡해
(born 1950)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 June 2016
Vice President of the State Affairs Commission
Vice President Political party Member since Other positions
Kim Tok-hun
김덕훈
(born 1961)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 September 2021
Members of the State Affairs Commission
Member Political party Member since Other positions
Kim Yong-chol
김영철
(born 1945)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 June 2016
Jong Kyong-thaek
정경택		 Workers' Party of Korea 11 April 2018
Ri Son-gwon
리선권		 Workers' Party of Korea 12 April 2020
Jo Yong-won
조용원
(born 1957)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 September 2021
Pak Jong-chon
박정천		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 September 2021
O Su-yong
오수용
(born 1944)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 September 2021
Ri Yong-gil
리영길
(born 1955)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 September 2021
Jang Jong-nam
장정남		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 September 2021
Kim Song-nam
김성남
(born 1953)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 September 2021
Kim Yo-jong
김여정
(born 1987)		 Workers' Party of Korea 29 September 2021

References

  1. 1 2 "Naenara Democratic People's Republic of Korea". www.naenara.com.kp. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  2. ↑ Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 2016, Article 106.
  3. ↑ Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 2016, Article 109.
  4. ↑ Overview of North Korea’s NBC Infrastructure
  5. ↑ "Organizational Chart of North Korean Leadership" (PDF). Seoul: Political and Military Analysis Division, Intelligence and Analysis Bureau; Ministry of Unification. January 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  6. ↑ Coduti, Maria Rosaria. The State Affairs Commission and the consolidation of Kim Jong-un's power
  7. ↑ "In full: promotions and demotions at North Korea's 14th SPA". NK PRO. Korea Risk Group. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Second-day Sitting of 5th Session of 14th SPA of DPRK Held". KCNA Watch. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "At 5th Session of 14th Supreme People's Assembly of DPRK". KCNA Watch. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.

Works cited

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.