14th Supreme People's Assembly

14th Supreme People's Assembly was the session of the Supreme People's Assembly, the unicameral legislature of North Korea, that convened from April 2019 to January 2024. It was elected during the 2019 North Korean parliamentary election and oversaw a period marked by significant domestic policy shifts under the leadership of Kim Jong-un. The assembly's term encompassed the nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the enactment of new strategic laws, and the lead-up to the subsequent 2023 North Korean parliamentary election.

History and convocation

The 14th Supreme People's Assembly was constituted following the 2019 North Korean parliamentary election held on 10 March 2019, where candidates approved by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea secured all 687 seats. Its first session was convened on 11 April 2019 at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, a date symbolically aligned with the Day of the Sun commemorating the birth of Kim Il-sung. This convocation occurred during a critical phase of diplomatic engagement, shortly after the 2018–19 Korean peace process and the 2019 Hanoi Summit between Kim Jong-un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump. The assembly's term formally concluded with its final session in January 2024, after which it was succeeded by the 15th Supreme People's Assembly.

Composition and membership

The assembly comprised 687 deputies, all elected from single-candidate constituencies under the banner of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea. Key figures from the ruling Workers' Party of Korea dominated the membership, including Kim Jong-un, who represented Mount Paektu constituency. Other prominent members included Choe Ryong-hae, Kim Jae-ryong, Pak Pong-ju, and Ri Son-gwon. The composition also featured representatives from allied organizations like the Korean People's Army, the Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League, and the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea. Notably, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un, was elected as a deputy, further solidifying the Kim dynasty's presence within the legislative body.

Leadership and organization

During its inaugural session, the assembly re-elected Choe Ryong-hae as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, effectively the head of state. Kim Jong-un was reaffirmed as the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, the nation's highest executive authority. The Premier position was initially held by Kim Jae-ryong before being succeeded by Kim Tok-hun in August 2020 following a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. Key legislative committees, such as the Budget Committee and the Legislation Committee, were formed, with their chairs appointed by the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly. The Mansudae Assembly Hall served as the permanent venue for all plenary sessions.

Legislative activity and sessions

The 14th Supreme People's Assembly held several plenary sessions, with major meetings typically convened in April and September. Significant legislation enacted included the constitutional amendments in 2019 that formally established the State Affairs Commission as the supreme policymaking body. In 2022, the assembly passed the Law on the Nuclear Forces Policy, legally enshrining the country's status as a nuclear weapons state. Other key sessions addressed national budgets, approved appointments to the Central Court and the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, and discussed measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the strict border closure policy. The assembly also provided a platform for major policy speeches by Kim Jong-un on issues like Juche and self-reliance.

Elections and term

Deputies were elected to a five-year term through the 2019 North Korean parliamentary election, which reported a 99.99% voter turnout. The election process, administered by the Central Election Committee, involved pre-approved candidates from the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea. The term officially began with the first session on 11 April 2019 and was constitutionally set to conclude in 2024. Preparations for the next election commenced in 2023, culminating in the 2023 North Korean parliamentary election held on 26 November 2023. The newly elected deputies of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly held their first session in January 2024, marking the end of the 14th assembly's mandate.

Category:2019 establishments in North Korea Category:2024 disestablishments in North Korea Category:Supreme People's Assembly