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| President of the State Affairs Commission | |
|---|---|
| Post | President of the State Affairs Commission |
| Body | Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| Incumbent | Kim Jong Un |
| Incumbentsince | 29 June 2016 |
| Style | Excellency |
| Residence | Ryongsong Residence |
| Seat | Pyongyang |
| Appointer | Supreme People's Assembly |
| Termlength | 5 years |
| Precursor | Chairman of the National Defence Commission |
| Formation | 29 June 2016 |
President of the State Affairs Commission is the highest office of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the supreme leader position held by Kim Jong Un since 2016. The office consolidates authority over the Workers' Party of Korea, the Korean People's Army, and state organs represented in the Supreme People's Assembly, and acts as the principal representative in international relations with states such as the United States, China, Russia, South Korea, and Japan. The position evolved from earlier posts including the Chairman of the National Defence Commission, reflecting institutional changes undertaken during the tenures of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and their successors.
The President presides over the State Affairs Commission, the central organ coordinating policy among the WPK Central Committee, the Cabinet of North Korea, and the Ministry of State Security. The office is recognized in the DPRK constitution and interacts with foreign counterparts such as the President of the United States, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, the President of Russia, the President of South Korea, and the Prime Minister of Japan through summits, negotiations, and diplomatic channels like the Panmunjom Declaration and inter-Korean talks. The role overlaps with military leadership exercised by commanders of the Korean People's Army Ground Force, the Korean People's Navy, and the Korean People's Air Force.
The office was established by constitutional amendment on 29 June 2016, succeeding the Chairman of the National Defence Commission which had been created during the leadership of Kim Jong Il and rooted in the legacy of Kim Il Sung. Institutional predecessors include the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and revolutionary-era organs from post-World War II settlements influenced by actors like the Soviet Union and the Provisional People's Committee for North Korea. Major milestones tying the office to international events include meetings at the Korean Armistice Agreement framework, high-profile summits such as the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit, the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, and diplomatic exchanges with the Chinese Communist Party leadership.
Constitutional powers assign the President authority to direct national defense policy, command the Korean People's Army, appoint key officials within the State Affairs Commission, and represent the DPRK in treaties and accords. The office issues binding directives affecting entities like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (North Korea), the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, and the State Planning Commission. In practice, the President's responsibilities encompass oversight of strategic programs related to nuclear policy, ballistic missile development with ties to testing programs, and negotiations referenced in frameworks including the Six-Party Talks and the UN Security Council deliberations on sanctions.
The Supreme People's Assembly selects the President by vote following nomination procedures rooted in the Workers' Party of Korea leadership structure. Succession processes reflect dynastic precedent set by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, with party organs such as the WPK Central Military Commission and the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea shaping leadership transitions. Contingency mechanisms have involved institutions like the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and state bodies established to manage temporary authority during interregnums. International observers compare selection practices with leadership changes in states governed by parties such as the Chinese Communist Party and historical transitions in the Soviet Union.
- Kim Jong Un (incumbent; elected 29 June 2016) — previously held senior posts within the Workers' Party of Korea and military organs; successor to titles held by Kim Jong Il (Chairman of the National Defence Commission) and the cult of personality established for Kim Il Sung. (See institutional lineage: Chairman of the National Defence Commission, Supreme Leader of North Korea).
Domestically, the President's authority shapes policy impacting institutions like the Korean People's Army, the Ministry of State Security, and state media organs such as Korean Central News Agency. The office is central to national narratives alongside commemorations of figures like Kim Il Sung during events like Day of the Sun and state celebrations. Internationally, the President is pivotal in negotiations involving the United States, China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea over security, sanctions, and engagement, as seen in interactions surrounding the UN Security Council resolutions and multilateral frameworks including the Six-Party Talks.
Symbols associated with the office include portraits displayed in sites like the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, emblems used by the State Affairs Commission, and iconography on official media such as the Rodong Sinmun and the Korean Central Television broadcasts. Insignia echo motifs present in the Workers' Party of Korea flag, the national flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and military standards of the Korean People's Army.
Category:Politics of North Korea Category:North Korean government institutions