North Korea's Parliamentary Election Yields 99.93% Vote for Ruling Party

North Korea Holds Parliamentary Election

According to Главком: North Korea held a parliamentary election on March 15, where the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and its allies secured 99.93% of the vote, winning all 687 seats in the Supreme People's Assembly. Voter turnout was reported at 99.99%, a figure state media cites as evidence of the population's significant engagement with the electoral process. Such elections are a standard feature of the country's political system, which does not permit genuine multi-party competition.

Election Results

The election determined the composition of the 15th-term parliament, where over 70% of deputies are new faces. Among the newly elected deputies are:

• Kim Yo Jong, the sister of Kim Jong Un
• Choe Son Hui, the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Choe Ryong Hae was not included in the new parliamentary lineup. Notably, the 'against' vote tally was only 0.07%. This outcome was facilitated by the electoral system, where only a single state-approved candidate stands in each constituency.

The parliament is set to convene to approve personnel decisions and potential constitutional amendments. These elections represent another stage in North Korea's political life, which, according to official sources, continues to demonstrate public support for the ruling party.

The election results indicate unconditional support for the Workers' Party of Korea within a political system where alternative candidates have no opportunity to compete. - Official Sources

The extremely high turnout and near-total support for the party can be interpreted as an effort by the authorities to project regime stability and legitimacy amid international sanctions and domestic challenges. The new parliamentary assembly is expected to consider important issues that could influence the country's future direction.