Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (2026) (Full Text)
The newly added Article 2 consists of the following: "The territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 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." and "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall absolutely not tolerate any infringement on its territory."
While it comprehensively defined North Korea's sovereign territory and codified the 'inviolability' of that area, it did not reflect explicit expressions of 'hostility toward the South.'
Lee Jung-chul, a professor of political science at Seoul National University who met with reporters covering the Ministry of Unification on the morning of the 6th, said, "In this constitutional amendment, a territorial clause was newly established and expressions and regulations emphasizing statehood were added, but since no expressions related to the adjective 'hostile' can be found, I have a hopeful assessment that an infrastructure for peaceful coexistence between the South and North could be established."
Regarding the deletion of the goal from Article 9 of the previous constitution—"realization of national unification based on the principles of the complete victory of socialism in the northern half, independence, peaceful unification, and great national unity"—from the revised constitution, it was assessed as positive in that, although this implies the North has not abandoned the "two-state theory," there is room to expect peaceful coexistence between the South and North.
Regarding the change of the North Korean constitution, which was amended at the first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly last March, from the existing expression "Socialist Constitution" to the plain name "Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," he assessed that it reflects the aspiration for "normalization into a normal state," stating, "I view it as a design of the constitution with measures that generally soften the expression and do not necessarily emphasize the socialist character."
Compared to the 'Socialist Constitution' revised at the 9th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly in September 2023, the overall composition has been reduced by four articles to a preamble and 7 chapters with 168 articles. It is also confirmed that not only the name of the constitution but also the expression 'socialism' has been drastically reduced in the preamble and the main text, and explicit expressions of 'hostility toward the South' cannot be found.
It is characterized by the simplification of not only the preface but also the content, where 'socialist independent national economic line' is reduced to 'independent national economic line,' and 'socialist legal life' and 'socialist legal system' are reduced to 'legal life' and 'legal system,' respectively.
In the preamble, the revised constitution briefly mentions "Kim Il-sung-Kim Jong-ilism" as the "sole guiding principle of state construction and activities" and the "overall direction and overall goal of state construction," and states, "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 statement in the preamble of the previous 'Socialist Constitution' that "the Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the Kim Il-sung-Kim Jong-il Constitution, which codifies the Juche-oriented state-building ideology and state-building achievements of the great leader Comrade Kim Il-sung and the great leader Comrade Kim Jong-il" has been completely revised.
Another feature is that it formalized Chairman Kim Jong Un’s core discourse, ‘People’s Mass First,’ as the fundamental principle of state building and activities, and added ‘safeguarding national interests’ as an immutable principle to the basic ideology of foreign policy, ‘independence, peace, and friendship.’
The revised constitution significantly strengthened the authority and status of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission.
In Chapter 6, which defines state institutions, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission was placed for the first time in Section 1, preceding the Supreme People's Assembly. It is also notable that the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission was redefined as the "Head of State" (Article 86) instead of the existing "Supreme Leader," thereby granting him the status of a state representative, and that the authority to use nuclear weapons was specified for the first time (Article 89), thereby codifying the command over all armed forces.
The provision allowing the Supreme People's Assembly to recall the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission was deleted, and the authority of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission to appoint and dismiss important state officials, such as the Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly and the Prime Minister, was specified (Article 90).
In response to this, a Blue House official stated on the 7th, “We will comprehensively review matters related to trends in the revision of the North Korean constitution,” adding, “Based on this comprehensive review, the government will consistently pursue a policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.”
Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (2026) (Full Text)
introduction
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 regards the great Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il ideology as the sole guiding principle for state construction and activities, and makes the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il ideology of the entire society the overall direction and overall goal of state construction.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea resolutely defends and upholds the brilliant traditions established in the glorious revolutionary struggle for the liberation of the motherland and the freedom and happiness of the people, and continuously inherits and develops them.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea makes it the fundamental principles of state construction and activities to establish the sole leadership system of the leader, adhere to the revolutionary line of independence, and thoroughly implement the principle of prioritizing the people.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea organizes and carries out all state affairs in accordance with the Leader's vision and intentions, resolutely defends, upholds, and endlessly glorifies the Leader's state-building ideology and achievements.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea establishes an independent foundation in state building and activities, and develops all sectors of social life in its own way and through its own efforts.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea prioritizes and absolutizes the demands and interests of the people and makes the promotion of the people's welfare the supreme principle of its activities.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea proceeds by firmly grasping the strengthening of the people's government and the enhancement of its functions and roles, while thoroughly carrying out the three revolutions of ideology, technology, and culture, as the general line of socialist construction.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea constantly strengthens the unified leadership 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 enhances the state's leading role in carrying out the Three Revolutions and accelerates the revolutionary transformation 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 the mass line to strengthen the unity of the whole society in every way, solves all problems relying on the patriotic zeal and creativity of the people, and strengthens the dictatorship of people's democracy to reliably safeguard 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 population and the fortification of the entire nation at a higher level, and develops the national defense industry to continuously improve its national defense capabilities.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea improves and perfects the legal system and strengthens legal life so that the law protects the people and the people obey the law.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea expands and develops foreign relations while holding fast to independence, peace, and friendship as the basic concepts of its foreign policy and the safeguarding of national interests as an immutable principle, and struggles for world peace and security and the common prosperity of humanity.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will firmly grasp the Constitution, which is a true code of the people and a powerful political weapon for revolution and construction, and complete the Juche revolutionary cause to the very end.
Chapter 1 Politics
Article 1: The name of our country is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Article 2: The territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 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. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall absolutely not tolerate any infringement upon its territory.
Article 3: A citizen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a person who holds the nationality of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Citizens are protected by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea regardless of their place of residence or stay.
Article 4: The sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea resides in the working people, including workers, farmers, soldiers, and intellectuals. The working people exercise their sovereignty through their representative bodies, the Supreme People's Assembly and local people's assemblies at all levels.
Article 5: In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, all state organs are organized and operated in accordance with the principle of democratic centralism.
Article 6: Sovereign bodies at all levels, from the Supreme People's Assembly to the Military People's Assemblies, shall be elected by secret ballot in accordance with the general, equal, and direct principles.
Article 7: Delegates of sovereign bodies at all levels shall have close ties with the electors and be accountable to the electors for their affairs. If a delegate loses the confidence of the electors, he/she may be recalled at any time.
Article 8: The social system of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a people-centered social system in which the working people are the masters of everything and everything in society serves the working people. 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 activities under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Article 10: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea relies on the political and ideological unity of the entire people, firmly united around the Workers' Party of Korea. The State strengthens the ideological revolution to revolutionize and proletarianize all members of society, and to make the entire society into one comradely united collective.
Article 11: The State vigorously carries out revolutionary mass movements and patriotic movements, including the movement to win the Red Flag of the Three Revolutions, and accelerates socialist construction to the maximum extent.
Article 12: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea defends the democratic national rights and legitimate rights and interests recognized under international law of Korean compatriots abroad.
Article 13: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea guarantees the lawful rights and interests of persons of other countries within its territory.
Article 14: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea establishes state, political, economic, and cultural relations with all countries that treat our country in a friendly manner, based on the principles of complete equality and independence, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and reciprocity. The State unites 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 the struggle of the peoples of all countries to realize their country's 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 a fundamental weapon of state administration. Respect for the law and strict enforcement of compliance are mandatory for all institutions, enterprises, organizations, and citizens.
Chapter 2 Economy
Article 16: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea relies on socialist production relations 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 property belongs to the entire people. There are no limitations on the objects of state ownership. The State alone owns all natural resources of the country, railways, air transport, postal institutions, and major factories, enterprises, ports, banks, and other objects that form the basic lifeline of the national economy. The State prioritizes the protection and growth of state property that plays a leading role in the country's economic development.
Article 19: Ownership by social cooperatives is the collective ownership of the workers belonging to the organization. Land, agricultural machinery, ships, small and medium-sized factories, and enterprises may be owned by social cooperatives. The State protects ownership by social cooperatives.
Article 20: The State shall organically combine the two types of ownership and improve the guidance and management of cooperative management in the direction of raising the ideological consciousness and technical culture level of the peasants and enhancing the leading role of all-people's ownership over cooperative ownership, thereby consolidating and developing the socialist cooperative management system and gradually converting cooperative ownership into all-people's ownership in accordance with the voluntary will of all members within the cooperative organizations.
Article 21: Private property is ownership by citizens for their personal and consumptive purposes. Private property is formed through the socialist distribution of labor and additional benefits from the state and society. Income legally earned by an individual also belongs to private property. The state protects private property and legally guarantees the right of inheritance therefrom.
Article 22: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea takes as its supreme principle the ceaseless elevation of the people's material and cultural life. The growing material wealth of society in our country is entirely directed toward the promotion of the welfare of workers. The State struggles to provide the people with prosperous and civilized living conditions.
Article 23: The self-reliant national economy established in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a solid foundation for the happy life of the people and the prosperity and flourishing of the motherland. The State holds fast to the line of building a self-reliant national economy and strives to accelerate the self-reliance, modernization, informatization, and scientification of the people's economy to make it a highly developed self-reliant economy and to build the material and technical foundations suitable for a completely victorious socialist society.
Article 24: The technological revolution is the fundamental link for developing the socialist economy, and scientific and technological capability is the state's most important strategic resource. The state enhances the leading role of science and technology in all economic activities, integrates science and technology with production, and vigorously promotes a mass technological innovation movement to accelerate economic construction.
Article 25: In order to eliminate the differences between cities and rural areas and the class differences between the working class and the peasantry, the State shall accelerate the rural technological revolution to industrialize and modernize agriculture and strengthen guidance and assistance to rural areas. The State shall increase national guarantees and support for rural areas to strengthen the material and technical foundations of agriculture and provide excellent living conditions for rural residents.
Article 26: The State shall promote the independent and multifaceted development of cities and counties to make all cities and counties strategic bases of a civilized and prosperous socialist power and developed regions with their own unique characteristics. The State shall ensure that all cities and counties actively develop and make effective use of their local natural and economic resources, and accelerate the modernization and informatization of local industrial factories, thereby guaranteeing simultaneous and balanced development focused on local characteristics. The State shall provide the material and technical foundations and conditions for local development, and enable local regions to firmly cultivate their own strength and potential to achieve solid and sustainable development.
Article 27: Socialism is built through the patriotic zeal and creative labor of the working masses. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, labor is the independent and creative labor of the workers. The State ensures that the labor of the workers becomes more enjoyable and rewarding by working with conscious zeal and creative enthusiasm for society, the collective, and themselves.
Article 28: The daily working hours of workers are eight hours. The State shall set the daily working hours shorter than this based on the degree of labor difficulty and special conditions. The State shall organize labor well and strengthen labor discipline to ensure the full utilization of working hours.
Article 29: In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the working age of a citizen is 17. The State prohibits the labor of boys who have not reached the working age.
Article 30: The State firmly adheres to the principle of correctly combining political guidance and economic-technical guidance, the unified leadership of the State and the emergence of each unit, sole command and democracy, and political-moral and material incentives in the guidance and management of the socialist economy, and ensuring practical benefits.
Article 31: The State shall manage and operate the economy scientifically and rationally based on the collective wisdom and strength of the producing masses, and decisively enhance the role of the Cabinet. The State shall implement the socialist enterprise responsibility management system in economic management and ensure the proper utilization of economic space, such as costs, prices, and profitability.
Article 32: The people's economy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a planned economy. The State formulates and implements plans for the development of the people's economy in accordance with the laws of socialist economic development to correctly balance accumulation and consumption, accelerate economic construction, continuously improve the people's living standards, and strengthen national defense capabilities. The State ensures a high speed of production growth and the balanced development of the people's economy by realizing the unification and detailed planning.
Article 33: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea formulates and executes a state budget in accordance with the plan for the development of the people's economy. The State strengthens the struggle for increased production and conservation in all sectors and strictly implements fiscal control to systematically increase state accumulation and expand and develop socialist ownership.
Article 34: In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, foreign trade is conducted by state agencies, enterprises, and social cooperative organizations. The State shall maintain credibility in foreign trade, improve the trade structure, and expand and develop external economic relations on the principles of equality and reciprocity.
Article 35: The State encourages joint ventures and cooperation between our country's agencies, enterprises, and organizations and legal entities or individuals of other countries, as well as the establishment and operation of various enterprises in special economic zones.
Article 36: The State shall implement tariff policies to protect the independent national economy.
Chapter 3 Culture
Article 37: The socialist culture flourishing and developing in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea contributes to enhancing the creative capabilities of workers and satisfying sound cultural and emotional needs.
Article 38: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea thoroughly carries out the Cultural Revolution to make all people socialist builders with deep knowledge of nature and society and a high level of cultural and technical skills, and accelerates the transformation of the entire population into scientific and technological talents.
Article 39: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea builds a genuine people-oriented and revolutionary culture that serves socialist workers. The State rejects the cultural infiltration of imperialism in the construction of socialist national culture, protects national cultural heritage based on the principles of Juche, historicism, and scientific rigor, and inherits and develops it in accordance with socialist reality.
Article 40: The State shall establish a leading role in scientific research projects, actively adopt advanced science and technology, increase national investment in the scientific research sector, and pioneer new fields of science and technology to raise the country's science and technology to a world-class level.
Article 41: The State shall establish discipline for properly formulating and thoroughly implementing plans for scientific and technological development, and strengthen creative cooperation among scientists, engineers, and producers.
Article 42: The State embodies the principles of socialist pedagogy to raise future generations as true patriots who struggle for society and the collective, the motherland and the people, and as workers of socialist construction equipped with intellect, virtue, and physical strength.
Article 43: The State places priority on the work of people's education and the training of national cadres over all other endeavors, and closely integrates general education with technical education, and education with productive labor. The State improves the structure, content, and methods of education to develop it into the most superior and ideal education to which we can confidently entrust our future.
Article 44: The State develops the overall 12-year compulsory education system, including one year of pre-school compulsory education, to a high level in accordance with the trends of modern scientific and technological development and the requirements of socialist construction.
Article 45: The State develops specialized education systems and various forms of work-study education systems, and continuously improves educational conditions and environments to cultivate competent science and technology talents.
Article 46: The State shall provide free education to all students, grant scholarships to university students, and expand and strengthen socialist policies for future generations.
Article 47: The State strengthens social education and guarantees all conditions for all workers to learn.
Article 48: The State raises preschool children in daycare centers and kindergartens at the burden of the State and society.
Article 49: The State shall consolidate and develop the socialist health system, improve the quality of medical services, and strengthen the material and technical foundations of the health sector to protect people's lives and promote the health of workers.
Article 50: The State develops independent and revolutionary literature and art that embodies socialist content in national forms. The State ensures that creators and artists produce many works of high ideological and artistic quality and that the broad masses participate widely in literary and artistic activities.
Article 51: The State shall provide sufficient modern cultural facilities to meet the needs of people who wish to develop continuously, both mentally and physically, so that all workers may fully enjoy a socialist cultural and emotional life.
Article 52: The State popularizes and integrates sports into daily life to firmly prepare the entire people for labor and national defense, and develops sports technology in accordance with the conditions of the country and the trends in the development of modern sports technology.
Article 53: The State creates and develops a revolutionary and noble socialist culture of life and strengthens the struggle against phenomena contrary to the socialist way of life.
Article 54: The State shall ensure that all members of society uphold their independence and national identity in their linguistic lives, and protect and actively promote the Pyongyang Cultural Language.
Article 55: The State shall establish environmental protection measures prior to production, preserve and create the natural environment, and prevent environmental pollution to provide the people with a culturally and hygienically compliant living environment and working conditions.
Chapter 4 National Defense
Article 57: The mission of the armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is to defend state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the rights and interests of the people, to defend the socialist system and the gains of the revolution from all threats, and to guarantee the peace and prosperity of the motherland with powerful military power.
Article 58: The State implements a self-defensive military line consisting of the training of all military cadres, the modernization of the entire military, the arming of the entire people, and the fortification of the entire nation, based on the foundation of politically and ideologically arming the people and the officers and soldiers of the People's Army.
Article 59: The State shall establish a revolutionary leadership system and military discipline within the military, strengthen military and mass discipline, and highly promote the noble traditional virtues of unity between officers and soldiers, integration of military and government, and unity between the military and the people.
Article 60: The State shall develop national defense science and technology and continuously raise the level of self-reliance, modernization, and scientific advancement of the national defense industry.
Article 61: The State shall establish a military-oriented atmosphere throughout society and ensure thorough preparation for all-out resistance.
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 genuine 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 are further expanded with the consolidation and development of the socialist system.
Article 64: Citizens have the same rights in all areas of national and social life.
Article 65: All citizens aged 18 or older have the right to vote and to be elected, regardless of gender, ethnicity, occupation, length of residence, property and level of knowledge, party, political views, or religion. Citizens serving in the military also have the right to vote and 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 and to be elected.
Article 66: Citizens shall have freedom of speech, press, assembly, demonstration, and association. The State shall guarantee the conditions for the free activity of democratic political parties and social organizations.
Article 67: Citizens shall have freedom of belief. This right shall be guaranteed by permitting the construction of religious buildings and religious ceremonies. Religion shall not be used to invite foreign forces or to undermine the national and social order.
Article 68: Citizens may file petitions and appeals. The State shall deliberate and process petitions and appeals fairly in accordance with the law.
Article 69: Citizens have the right to work. All citizens capable of working shall choose an occupation according to their wishes and talents and shall be guaranteed stable employment and working conditions. Citizens shall work according to their abilities and receive a share 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, public holidays, paid leave system, regular rest system and various cultural facilities.
Article 71: Citizens have the right to medical treatment, and those who have lost the ability to work due to old age, illness, or physical disability, as well as the elderly and children who have no one to care for them, have the right to material assistance. This right is guaranteed by increasing modern medical facilities, national social insurance, and social security systems.
Article 72: Citizens have the right to education. This right is guaranteed by an advanced education system and the state's popular education policies.
Article 73: Citizens shall have the freedom to engage in scientific, literary, and artistic activities. The State shall give preferential treatment to citizens who have contributed to the development of science, literature, and the arts. The State shall legally protect the intellectual property rights of its citizens.
Article 74: Citizens have the freedom of residence and travel.
Article 75: Heroes, war veterans, wartime merit recipients, honored soldiers, families of revolutionary martyrs, families of patriotic martyrs, bereaved families of martyrs who participated in overseas military operations, socialist patriotic merit recipients, retired generals, generational military officers, and rear-echelon families of the People's Army receive special protection from the state and society.
Article 76: Women have the same social status and rights as men. The State provides special protection for mothers and children through the guarantee of maternity leave, preferential treatment for mothers with multiple children, the expansion of maternity hospitals, daycare centers, and kindergarten networks, and other measures. The State creates all kinds of conditions for women to advance into society.
Article 77: Marriage and the family shall be protected by the State. The State shall pay deep attention to strengthening the family, which is the basic unit of life in society.
Article 78: Citizens are guaranteed the inviolability of their person and home, and the secrecy of their correspondence. No citizen may be detained or arrested without a basis in law, nor may their home be searched.
Article 79: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea protects persons of other countries who have sought asylum while fighting for peace, democracy, national independence, and socialism, and for the freedom of scientific and cultural activities.
Article 80: Citizens shall resolutely safeguard the political and ideological unity and solidarity of the people. Citizens shall cherish organizations and groups and demonstrate a spirit of dedicating themselves to working for society and the people.
Article 81: Citizens shall observe the laws of the state and the norms of socialist life, and uphold the honor and dignity of being citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Article 82: Labor is a sacred duty and honor of citizens. Citizens shall consciously and faithfully participate in labor and strictly observe labor discipline and working hours.
Article 83: Citizens shall cherish and love state property and the property of social cooperative organizations, fight against all forms of corruption and greed, and manage the affairs of the nation prudently as masters. The property of the state and social cooperative organizations is sacred and inviolable.
Article 84: Citizens must always heighten their revolutionary vigilance and fight with all their might for the security of the state.
Article 85: The defense of the homeland is the greatest duty and honor of a citizen. Citizens must defend the homeland and serve in the military 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 shall be elected by the Supreme People's Assembly in accordance with the collective will of the entire Korean people. The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall not be elected as a delegate 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 the term of office of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 89: The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall be the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and shall command and control all armed forces of the state. Command authority over the nuclear forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall be held by 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 delegate the authority to use nuclear forces to the command organization of the state nuclear forces.
Article 90: The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has the following powers.
1. Leads the overall affairs of the nation.
2. During the recess of the Supreme People's Assembly, the duties of important state officials, including the Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly and the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, are suspended, appointed, or dismissed.
3. Resign the delegates of the Supreme People's Assembly who have lost the trust of the people.
4. If any decree, government decree, decision, or directive adopted by the Supreme People's Assembly or the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly does not conform to the development of the state and the needs of the people, the Supreme People's Assembly shall exercise a veto power over it.
5. National commendations are awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions.
6. Receive credentials from diplomatic representatives of other countries.
7. Appoint or recall diplomatic representatives stationed in other countries.
8. Ratify or abrogate important treaties concluded with other countries.
9. Exercise special pardon powers.
10. Declare a state of emergency, a state of war, and a mobilization order for the country.
11. Organize and lead the National Defense Committee during wartime.
Article 91: The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issues orders and holy decrees.
Section 2 Supreme People's Assembly
Article 92: The Supreme People's Assembly is the supreme sovereign body of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Article 93: The Supreme People's Assembly exercises legislative power. During recess of the Supreme People's Assembly, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly may also exercise legislative power.
Article 94: The Supreme People's Assembly shall be composed of delegates elected by secret ballot in accordance with the principles of general, equal, and direct election.
Article 95: The term of office of the Supreme People's Assembly shall be five years. New elections for the Supreme People's Assembly shall be held before the expiration of the term of office of the Supreme People's Assembly, in accordance with the decision of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly. If elections cannot be held due to unavoidable circumstances, the term of office shall be extended until elections are held.
Article 96: The Supreme People's Assembly shall have the following powers.
1. Amend and supplement the Constitution.
2. Enact, amend, or supplement sectoral laws.
3. Approve the laws of important sectors adopted by the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly during the recess of the Supreme People's Assembly.
4. Establish basic principles of the nation's domestic and foreign policies.
5. Elect the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
6. The First Vice Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and members of the State Affairs Commission shall be elected or recalled upon the proposal of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
7. Elect or recall the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Supreme People's Assembly.
8. Elect or recall the Secretary General and members of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.
9. Elect or recall the Prime Minister.
10. Appoint or dismiss the First Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Chairmen, Ministers, and other members of the Cabinet upon the proposal of the Prime Minister.
11. Appoint or dismiss the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors Office.
12. Elect or recall the President of the Supreme Court.
13. Elect or recall chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and members of sectoral committees of the Supreme People's Assembly.
14. Review and approve reports on the national people's economic development plan and the status of its implementation.
15. Deliberate on and approve reports regarding the national budget and the status of its execution.
16. Cabinet Committee, introduce or abolish castles.
17. Receive reports on the status of work of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, the Cabinet, the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, and the Supreme Court, and formulate measures.
18. Decides on the ratification and abrogation of treaties submitted to the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 97: The Supreme People's Assembly shall hold regular sessions and extraordinary sessions. Regular sessions shall be convened twice a year by the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly. Extraordinary sessions shall be convened when the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly deems it necessary or when requested by at least one-third of all delegates.
Article 98: The Supreme People's Assembly shall be valid only if at least two-thirds of all delegates are present.
Article 99: The Supreme People's Assembly shall be presided over by the Chairman, and in the absence of the Chairman, by the Vice-Chairman.
Article 100: Bills to be discussed at the Supreme People's Assembly shall be submitted by the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the State Affairs Commission, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, the Cabinet, and the departmental committees of the Supreme People's Assembly. Delegates may also submit bills.
Article 101: The Supreme People's Assembly shall issue statutes and decisions. Statutory laws and decisions issued by the Supreme People's Assembly shall be adopted only if approved by at least half of the delegates present at the assembly. The Constitution shall be amended or supplemented only if approved by at least two-thirds of all delegates of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 102: The Supreme People's Assembly shall have sectoral committees such as the Legislative Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Foreign Affairs Committee. The sectoral committees of the Supreme People's Assembly shall be composed of chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and members. The sectoral committees of the Supreme People's Assembly shall assist the work of the Supreme People's Assembly in drafting and deliberating on state policy proposals and bills, and formulating measures for their implementation. The sectoral committees of the Supreme People's Assembly shall operate under the guidance of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly during the recess of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 103: Delegates to the Supreme People's Assembly shall be guaranteed inviolability. Delegates to the Supreme People's Assembly shall not be arrested or subjected to criminal punishment without the approval of the Supreme People's Assembly or the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, except in cases of flagrant offenses.
Section 3. State Council
Article 104: The State Council is the supreme policy-making body of state sovereignty.
Article 105: The State Council shall be composed of a Chairperson, a First Vice Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, and members.
Article 106: The term of office of the State Council is the same as the term of office of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 107: The State Council shall have the following duties and powers.
1. Discuss and decide on important national policies.
2. Supervise the execution of orders, decrees, decisions, and instructions of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and establish measures.
3. Decisions and directives of state organs that contradict the orders, divine commands, decisions, and directives of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are hereby abolished.
4. During the recess of the Supreme People's Assembly, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Chairmen, Ministers, and other members of the Cabinet shall be appointed or dismissed upon the proposal of the Cabinet Prime Minister.
Article 108: The State Council issues decisions and directives.
Section 4 Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly
Article 109: The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly is the supreme sovereign body during the recess of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 110: The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly shall be composed of a Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, a Secretary-General, and members. The Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Supreme People's Assembly shall concurrently serve as the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 111: The term of office of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly shall be the same as that of the Supreme People's Assembly. The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly shall continue to perform its duties even after the term of office of the Supreme People's Assembly has ended, until a new Standing Committee is elected.
Article 112: The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly has the following duties and powers.
1. Convene the Supreme People's Assembly.
2. Deliberate and adopt new sectoral bills and regulations proposed during the recess of the Supreme People's Assembly, as well as amendments and supplements to existing sectoral laws and regulations, and obtain approval from the next Supreme People's Assembly for important sectoral laws adopted and implemented.
3. During the recess due to unavoidable circumstances, the National People's Economic Development Plan, the National Budget, and the Adjustment Plan shall be deliberated and approved.
4. Interpret the Constitution and current laws and regulations.
5. Supervise the enforcement of law compliance by state agencies and establish measures.
6. Abolish decisions and directives of state organs that contradict 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 decrees, decisions, and directives of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, and suspend the execution of erroneous decisions by local people's assemblies.
7. Conduct work for the election of delegates to the Supreme People's Assembly and organize the election work for delegates to local people's assemblies.
8. Conduct business with delegates of the Supreme People's Assembly.
9. Conduct business with sectoral committees of the Supreme People's Assembly.
10. During the recess of the Supreme People's Assembly, the Cabinet Committee and the Ministry of State are created or abolished.
11. During the recess of the Supreme People's Assembly, the Vice-Chairperson of the Supreme People's Assembly, the Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, the members, and the members of the sectoral committees of the Supreme People's Assembly shall be elected or recalled, and the members of the sectoral committees of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly shall be appointed or dismissed.
12. Elect or recall judges of the Supreme Court and people's assessors.
13. Decides on the ratification and abrogation of treaties submitted to the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.
14. Guide the sovereign affairs of the local people's committee.
15. Establishes orders, medals, honorary titles, and diplomatic ranks, and awards orders, medals, and honorary titles.
16. Exercise ambassadorial authority.
17. Create or change administrative units and administrative districts.
18. Conduct foreign affairs, including projects with the parliaments of other countries and international parliamentary organizations.
Article 113: The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly shall have a plenary session and a standing committee. The plenary session shall be composed of all members, and the standing committee shall be composed of the chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary-general. Important matters concerning the realization of the duties and powers of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly shall be discussed and decided at the plenary session, while other matters shall be discussed and decided at the standing committee.
Article 114: The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly issues decrees, decisions, and directives.
Article 115: The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly may establish sectoral committees to assist in its work.
Article 116: The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly is responsible to the Supreme People's Assembly for its affairs.
Section 5 Cabinet
Article 117: The Cabinet is the administrative executive body of state sovereignty and the general state management body.
Article 118: The Cabinet shall be composed of the Prime Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Chairmen, Ministers, and other necessary members. The term of office of the Cabinet shall be the same as that of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 119: The Cabinet shall have the following duties and powers.
1. Establish measures to implement national policies.
2. Regulations related to state management shall be enacted, amended, or supplemented based on the Constitution and sectoral laws.
3. Leads the work of Cabinet committees, ministries, agencies directly under the Cabinet, and local people's assemblies.
4. Measures shall be taken to establish or abolish agencies directly under the Cabinet, important administrative and economic agencies, and enterprises, and to improve the state management structure.
5. Formulate a national plan for the development of the people's economy and establish measures for its implementation.
6. Formulate the national budget and establish measures for its execution.
7. Organize and execute business in industry, agriculture, construction, transportation, communications, commerce, trade, land management, urban management, education, science, culture, health, sports, labor administration, environmental protection, tourism, and various other sectors.
8. Establish measures to strengthen the currency and banking system.
9. Conduct inspection and control activities to establish national administrative order.
10. Establish measures for maintaining social order, protecting the ownership and interests of the state and social cooperatives, and guaranteeing the rights of citizens.
11. Conduct foreign business by concluding treaties with other countries.
12. Any decisions or directives of administrative and economic agencies that conflict with Cabinet decisions, executive orders, or directives shall be abolished.
Article 120: The Prime Minister organizes and directs the work of the Cabinet. The Prime Minister represents the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Article 121: The Cabinet shall hold a plenary session and a standing session. The plenary session shall be composed of all members of the Cabinet, and the standing session shall be composed of the Prime Minister, the First Deputy Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers, and other members of the Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister.
Article 122: The Cabinet issues decisions, executive orders, and directives.
Article 123: The Cabinet may establish ad hoc committees to assist in its affairs.
Article 124: The Cabinet is responsible for its affairs before the Supreme People's Assembly and the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly during its recess.
Article 125: The newly elected Prime Minister shall take an oath at the Supreme People's Assembly on behalf of the members of the Cabinet.
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 shall uniformly take control of and supervise the business of their respective sectors under the guidance of the Cabinet.
Article 128: Cabinet committees and ministries shall operate committee meetings and executive meetings. Committee meetings and executive meetings shall discuss and decide on Cabinet decisions, executive orders, measures for the implementation of directives, and other important matters.
Article 129: Cabinet committees and agencies directly under the Cabinet that perform performance and sectoral management functions issue instructions.
Section 6 Local People's Assembly
Article 130: The provincial (directly administered city), city (district), and county people's councils are local sovereign organs.
Article 131: Local People's Assemblies shall be composed of delegates elected by secret ballot in accordance with the principles of general, equal, and direct suffrage.
Article 132: The term of office for the People's Assemblies of Provinces (directly administered cities), Cities (districts), and Countys shall be four years. New elections for local People's Assemblies shall be held before the expiration of the term of office of the local People's Assembly, in accordance with the decision of the relevant local People's Committee. If an election cannot be held due to unavoidable circumstances, the term of office shall be extended until an election is held.
Article 133: Local People's Assemblies shall 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. Deliberate on and approve reports regarding local budgets and their execution.
3. Establish measures to enforce the laws of the state in the relevant area.
4. Elect or recall the chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, and members of the relevant People's Committee.
5. The erroneous decisions and directives of the relevant People's Committees, lower-level People's Assemblies, and People's Committees are abolished.
6. Receive reports on the status of work of provincial (city directly administered), city (district), and county-level agencies of the relevant People's Committee and formulate countermeasures.
Article 134: Local People's Assemblies shall hold regular and extraordinary sessions. Regular sessions shall be convened once or twice a year by the relevant People's Committee. Extraordinary sessions shall be convened when the relevant People's Committee deems it necessary or when requested by at least one-third of all delegates.
Article 135: A local people's assembly shall be valid only if at least two-thirds of all delegates are present.
Article 136: The local people's assembly shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman. The chairman shall preside over the meeting. In the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall preside over the meeting.
Article 137: The local people's assembly shall make decisions.
Section 7 Local People's Committee
Article 138: The People's Committees of provinces (directly administered cities), cities (districts), and counties are local sovereign organs during the recess of the relevant People's Assembly and are the administrative executive organs of the relevant local sovereignty.
Article 139: A local People's Committee shall be composed of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and members. The term of office of a local People's Committee shall be the same as the term of office of the relevant People's Assembly.
Article 140: Local People's Committees shall have the following duties and powers.
1. Convene the People's Assembly.
2. Conduct work for the election of delegates to the People's Assembly.
3. Conduct business with the delegates of the People's Assembly.
4. During the recess of the People's Assembly, the vice-chairpersons, secretaries, and members of the relevant People's Committee shall be elected or recalled.
5. During the recess of the People's Assembly, judges and people's assessors of the relevant court shall be elected or recalled.
6. Execute the orders and decrees of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, decrees and decisions of the Supreme People's Assembly, decisions and instructions of the State Affairs Commission, decrees, decisions and instructions of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, decisions, executive orders and instructions of the Cabinet, Cabinet committees, instructions of agencies directly under the Cabinet performing management functions by sector, decisions and instructions of the relevant local People's Assembly, and decisions and instructions of the higher-level People's Assembly.
7. Organize and execute all administrative projects in the relevant region.
8. Formulate local people's economic development plans and establish implementation measures.
9. Formulate the local budget and establish measures for its execution.
10. Measures shall be established for the maintenance of social order in the relevant region, the protection of the ownership and interests of the state and social cooperative organizations, and the guarantee of citizens' rights.
11. Conduct inspection and control projects in the relevant region to establish national administrative order.
12. Lead the work of lower-level people's committees.
13. The erroneous formation and directives of lower-level people's committees shall be abolished, and the execution of the erroneous decisions of lower-level people's assemblies shall be suspended.
Article 141: Local People's Committees shall hold a plenary meeting and a standing meeting. The plenary meeting of the Local People's Committee shall be composed of all members, and the standing meeting shall be composed of the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary-general. Important matters concerning the realization of the duties and powers of the Local People's Committee shall be discussed and decided at the plenary meeting, while other matters shall be discussed and decided at the standing meeting.
Article 142: Local People's Committees issue decisions and directives.
Article 143: Local People's Committees may establish ad hoc committees to assist in their work.
Article 144: Local People's Committees are responsible to the relevant People's Assembly for their affairs. Local People's Committees operate under the guidance of the Higher People's Committees, the Cabinet, and the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Section 8 Prosecution Offices and Courts
Article 145: The Prosecutor's Office is the legal supervision and prosecution agency of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Article 146: Prosecution services shall be conducted by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, provincial (directly administered city), city (district), county prosecutors' offices, and special prosecutors' offices.
Article 147: The term of office of the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors Office is the same as the term of office of the Supreme People's Assembly.
Article 148: Prosecutors are appointed or dismissed by the Supreme Prosecutors Office.
Article 149: The Public Prosecution Service shall perform the following duties.
1. Monitor whether institutions, enterprises, organizations, and citizens accurately observe the laws of the state.
2. Monitor whether the decisions and directives of state organs do not contradict the Constitution, the orders and decrees of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the laws and decisions of the Supreme People's Assembly, the decisions and directives of the State Affairs Commission, the decrees, decisions, and directives of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, and the decisions, executive orders, and directives of the Cabinet.
3. Protect the sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the socialist system, the property of the state and social cooperatives, and the constitutional rights, lives, and property of the people by detecting criminals and other law violators and pursuing legal responsibility.
Article 150: Prosecution affairs shall be uniformly directed by the Supreme Prosecution Service, and all prosecution offices shall be subordinate to the superior prosecution offices and the Supreme Prosecution Service.
Article 151: The Supreme Prosecutor's Office issues instructions.
Article 152: The Supreme Prosecutor's Office is responsible for its affairs before the Supreme People's Assembly and the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly during its recess.
Article 153: The court is a judicial body of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Article 154: Trials shall be conducted by the Supreme Court, provincial (directly administered city) courts, city (district) and county people's courts, and special courts. Judgments shall be pronounced in the name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Article 155: The term of office of the President of the Supreme Court shall be the same as that of the Supreme People's Assembly. The term of office of judges and people's assessors of the Supreme Court, provincial (municipal) courts, city (district) and county people's courts shall be the same as that of the respective people's assembly.
Article 156: The Chief Justice and judges of a special court shall be appointed or dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Article 157: The Court shall perform the following duties.
1. Protect the sovereignty and socialist system of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the property of the state and social cooperatives, and the constitutional rights, lives, and property of the people through judicial activities.
2. All institutions, enterprises, organizations, and citizens shall strictly observe the laws of the state and actively fight against class enemies and all law violators.
3. Executes judgments and rulings regarding property and conducts notarization business.
Article 158: Trials shall be conducted by a court composed of one judge and two people assessors. In special cases, the court may be composed of three judges.
Article 159: Trials shall be open to the public and the defendant's right to legal counsel shall be guaranteed. Trials may be held in private as prescribed by law.
Article 160: Trials shall be conducted in the Korean language. Persons of other countries may speak their own language in trials.
Article 161: The court is independent in adjudication and conducts its adjudication activities in accordance with the law.
Article 162: The Supreme Court is the supreme judicial body of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Supreme Court supervises the judicial affairs of all courts.
Article 163: The Supreme Court issues instructions.
Article 164: The Supreme Court is responsible for its affairs before the Supreme People's Assembly and the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly during its recess.
Chapter 7 State Emblem, National Flag, National Anthem, Capital
Article 165: The national emblem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea features a magnificent hydroelectric power plant within an oval border of a rice ear rising with a red band inscribed with "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," and above it are the sacred mountain of the revolution, Mount Baekdu, 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, a thin white stripe above and below it, a blue stripe, and a red five-pointed star inside a white circle on the side where the red stripe is attached. The ratio of the vertical to the horizontal of the flag is 1:1.65.
Article 167: The national anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a hymn of the entire people that embodies the patriotic faith and will to uphold and glorify our country's beautiful nature, long history, brilliant culture, and glorious struggle traditions from generation to generation, and to make the socialist country known to the whole world as an eternal people's country and a world power under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Article 168: The capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is Pyongyang.
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