Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) (Translated by Sun Min Woo, Soo Yeon Jun, Jungmin Yun, and Hyun-bin Shin) The following portion has been translated by: Sun Min Woo, Soo Yeon Jun,
Preface – Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a Socialist country which have realized the great leader Il Sung Kim's ideology and leadership. – Il Sung Kim is the founder of Socialist Korea. – Il Sung Kim has created the eternal ideology and have dedicated to building foundation for the economy, politics, culture, and the military. – Il Sung Kim has planned different levels of socialist revolution and has wisely led the people to Socialism and independence. – Il Sung Kim clarifies fundamentals of national activity and construction, and establishes the superior social system and politics, thereby creating the basis for future prosperity. – Il Sung Kim considers “E Min Wee Chun” as his motto, and has spend his entire life for the citizens, and unified the society as one big family. – The Great leader Il Sung Kim serves as the light to all people and is the member of national unification. – The Great leader II Sung Kim sets up the basic foreign policy for DPRK and strengthens the international relationship thereby increasing the international prestige of nation. – Il Sung Kim is a veteran who brings the new independent era to the world and enforces the world peace and friendly relationship among the people. – Il Sung Kim is a genius in ideology and political art –
1.
Politics
-Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a independent Socialist country that represents all of the Korean people's interest. - DPRK stands against Imperialists and is a revolutionary country that seeks people's freedom and happiness. - DPRK has a people centered world view and it focuses on the revolutionary ideology. - The laborers, farmers, soldiers, intelligentsia have the authority over the nation. - They practice their power through the district assembly. - All national institutions are structured and managed through the democratic centralized system . - All levels of assembly use the secret ballot system. - The social system is based on the people, and the people have ownership of the nation. - The nation is independent of exploitation and pressure from other countries and it respects and protects the human rights' of the people. - DPRK will be strengthened through pursuing the ideological, technological, and cultural revolution and thereby establishing independence, peace, unity, and perfected socialism. - DPRK runs all its activities under the guidance of the laborer's party. - DPRK supports the rights of North Koreans outside of the nation. - DPRK guarantees the rights of the foreigners within its own territory. - Independence, peace, and friendship are the fundamentals of DPRK's international politics. - DPRK will treat other nations with friendly ties with complete fairness and independence and will establish economic, political and cultural alliance with them. - DPRK's law is reflective of the people's rights and opinion, and is the basic tool of the nation.
2.
Economics
- DPRK's means of production is owned by the nation and the people. - The nation's property is that of the people. - All of the nation's natural resources, infrastructure, industry, ports, and banks are only owned DPRK. - The nation puts focus on the national property that plays a fundamental role in the economic growth. - Land, machinery, building, industry can be owned by Social Cooperation Organization, which is protected by the government. - Nation is responsible for the educate the farmers about technological and ideological knowledge. - Personal property is for the sake of individual consumption. - Personal property is made up of the distribution by DPRK and the society's additional benefit. - Output from agricultural land and private investment management are part of personal property. - The nation protects personal property and guarantees its inheritance by law. - DPRK regards raising the people's standard of living as its first priority. - Without tax, the society's increasing materialistic wealth goes to support social welfare. - The nation provides the necessary environment to maintain their standard of living. - Technological advances are essential to developing the socialist economy. - The nation prioritizes the development of technology in order to reduce the gap between physical and mental labor. - DPRK strives to reduce the gap between the rural and urban setting and the laborers and the farmers by industrializing and modernizing agriculture and increasing the role of the military. - The nation improves the production equipment and agricultural housing for the communal farms. - Laborers work for 8 hours a day. - Depending on the difficulty of the work, the work day may be shortened. - The minimum age to enter the work force is 16 years of age. - DPRK's economy is a planned economy. - The nation creates the national budget based on the plan. - DPRK increases its savings and socialist property through strict financial regulations. - International trade is regulated by the government, businesses, and Social cooperation organization. - In order to protect the nation's economy, DPRK will impose a tariff system.
3.
Culture
- DPRK accepts cultural revolution to educate the people of the knowledge regarding the nature and the society. - DPRK seeks to build a revolutionary and humanitarian culture for the Socialist laborer. - DPRK opposes imperialistic culture and conservatism, and protects national cultural heritage. - The nation rejects the obsolete society's lifestyle and establishes the new socialist lifestyle. - DPRK establishes 1 year of mandatory pre-school and 11 years of education overall to develop a standard that fits the modern technological advances. - DPRK pays for all students' education and provides scholarships to those attending post-secondary institutions to train scientists, technicians, and laborers. - DPRK provides day cares and preschools for babies. - DPRK promotes healthy lifestyle in order to strengthen the people for national defense and labor. - DPRK develops universal health care to nurture the people. - The nation makes various plans to protect the environment.
4.
National Defense
DPRK rests on the people’s nationwide defense system. The mission of the armed forces of the DPRK is to safeguard the interests of the working people, to defend the socialist system and the gains of the revolution from aggression and to protect the freedom, independence and peace of the country.
The State shall implement the line of self-reliant defense, the import of which is to train the army into a cadre army and modernize the army, arm the entire people and fortify the country on the basis of equipping the army and the people politically and ideologically. The State shall strengthen military and mass discipline in the army and promote the display of the noble traditional trait of unity between officers and men and unity between the army and the people.
5.
Rights and duties of the citizen
- DPRK citizenship may be obtained according to the law. - A citizen is under the protection of the government regardless of their location. - DPRK guarantees all citizens' happiness, freedom, and social activities. - All citizens have the same rights. - Everyone over the age of 17 have the right to vote and to be voted regardless of their gender, race, occupation, period of residency, wealth, intelligence, party, political view, and religion. - Those who are serving in the army have the same voting rights. - The citizens have the freedom of press, speech, assembly, forma an association, and protest. - The citizens have the right to choose which party they associate themselves with. - Citizens have the freedom of religion. - They have the right to plea and bring a charge. - They have the right to labor, and they have the right to choose their occupation. - Their income is distributed based on the load and the quality of labor. - They have the right to choose when to rest. - Citizens have the right to education. - They have the right to pursue their technological and cultural interests. - DPRK respects inventors. - Citizens have the right to travel. - Veterans get special treatment from the government - DPRK practices egalitarianism. - Marriage and family are protected by DPRK. - Citizens have the right to privacy. 72. The citizens have the right to have health and citizens have the responsibility to aid the physically ill and the people have lost the ability to work. The elderly and the children should have the right to aids. These rights are backed up by the free clinics, ever growing hospitals and the national health care system. 73. The people have the right to education. These rights are guaranteed by the education system. 74. The people have the freedom to science and fine arts. The nation gives its right to the inventors. The nation will protect the inventors with patents. (One of the powers the U.S. Constitution explicitly gives to Congress)‌ 75. The people have the right to live and to travel. 76. Freedom fighters, martyrs for the nation, families of army men, will receive special protection from the national government. 77. Women and men have the same social authority. The government will protect the women with children, and offer them special protection. The government will grant special privileges to give women the chance to advance into society. 78. Marriage and family receive protection from the government. The society will turn its attention to having a good family. 79. The people have the right to life and have secrets. Unless they break the laws, the government cannot have search and seizure. 80. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will take in people that fled other nations fighting for freedom, social science, and scientific research. 81. The people have to unite and protect the country. The people will give importance to the society and will sacrifice themselves for the higher good.
82. The people will abide by the nation’s laws will respect the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 83. Labor is the people’s duty. The people need to participate in the labor and need to keep up with the labor time and rules. 84. People need to live with frugality and love the nation and not waste money. 85. The people will need to give up everything for the nation. 86. Protecting the nation is one of the greatest duties of a citizen. The people must abide by the laws and work for the army when the government tells them to.
Note the following portion has been translated by Hyun-bin Shin 6th: National Structure 87. The National People’s Representatives are the supreme power. 88. The National People’s Representatives are the ones that create the laws. No other organizations can create or demolish laws. 89. The National People’s Representatives are voted through a secret voting process. 90. The limit for the National People’s Representatives is five years. If for some reason the voting process cannot take place, then the voting is postponed. 91. The National People’s Representatives have these rights. 1. They can correct and add to the constitution. 2. They can correct laws and amendments. 3. They have the power to approve laws that other parts of the government make. 4. They set up the basic infrastructure of the nation. 5. They have the power to vote for the leader of the National Defense Committee and summon them. 6. They summon and vote for the leader of the National Assembly Standing Committee. 7. They vote for other positions within the National Defense Committee. 8. They vote for other positions within the National Assembly Standing committee. 9. They choose the minister. 10. Through the minister, they choose different positions within the government. 11. They choose the head of the police department. 12. They choose the head of the judiciary department. 13. They summon the vice president and the committee. 14. They look at the national plans and approve them. 15. They over see the over all national budget and approve them. 16. They receive reports from the central sectors of the government and come up with plans. 17. They decide to pass or nullify the treaties created by the Supreme People’s Assembly. 92. The Supreme People’s Assembly holds sessions. Regular sessions are held once or twice a year. The session is held when they think it is needed and when there are more than 1/3 of the party present. 93. There needs to be at least 2/3 of the Supreme People’s Assembly present for a meeting. 94. The Supreme People’s Assembly elects the President and the Vice-President, which look over the sessions. 95. Topics to be discussed at the Supreme People’s Assembly are submitted by the President of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the Cabinet Members and the Committee. The deputies can also suggest new topics. 96. The first sessions elect the Credential Committee and makes decision about the deputies; whether or not they are qualified. 97. The Supreme People’s Assembly makes laws and decisions. These laws are adopted when more than half of the deputies approve it. The Constitution can be amended or added to with the agreement of more then 2/3 of the Supreme People’s Assembly. 98. The Supreme People’s Assembly appoints the Bills Committee, the Budget Committee as well as other committees within the government. 99. The deputies of the Supreme People’s Assembly have inviolability. They cannot be arrested without the consent of the Supreme People’s Assembly. 100. The Nation Defense Commission is the highest military leadership and the higest overall administration in terms of national defense. 101. The terms for the National Defense Committee is the same as the Supreme People’s Assembly.
102. The President of the National Defense Committee has control of the army and guides the national defense. 103. The National Defense Committee has these duties. 1. They direct the entire armed forces and defense building of the nation. 2. They create the main sections of the national defense. 3. Appoint or removes military positions 4. Create or destroy treaties with other nations. 5. They have the prerogative of mercy. 6. They proclaim state of war and mobilization for the nation. 104. The National Defense Committee makes decisions and orders. 105. The National Defense Committee is responsible for the decisions of the Supreme People’s Assembly. 106. The President of the Supreme People’s Assembly is the highest power when the Supreme People’s Assembly is not in sessions. 107. The leadership of the Supreme People’s Assembly consists of the President, the Vice President and the Secretary and the cabinet. 108. The term of the National Defense Committee is the same as the Supreme People’s Assembly. 109. The National Defense Committee has the following duties: 1. They set up the main plans of the nation. 2. They set up military business and construct national things. 3. They develop plans for the national economy and supervise and plan it. 4. They get rid of laws that violate things. 5. They create or get rid of central organizations. 6. They create military positions and offer them. 110. The National Defense Committee makes decisions and orders. 111. The National Defense Committee is responsible for the Supreme People’s Assembly. 112. The Supreme People’s Assembly has supreme authority. 113. The Supreme People’s Assembly’s Standing Committee has a President, Vice President, Secretary and so on. 114. The Supreme People’s Assembly’s Standing Committee can have temporary members. But these members need to have participated in long time national construction to be part of it. 115. The Standing Committee’s term length are the same as the Supreme People’s Committee’s. Even after the term is over, until new members are elected, they are to carry out their duties. 116. The Standing Committee have the following duties: 1. They have the authority to call up the Supreme People’s Committee 2. They approve new laws, and fix them and receive approval from the next meeting with the Supreme People’s Committee. 3. During emergency national budget crisis, the Standing Committee figures it out and deals with it. 4. They interpret the Constitution and laws. 5. They look over the central organs of the government and sets up plans. 6. Laws, Constitutions, any decisions, that are not correct, they put an end to them. 7. They run campaigns for the Supreme People’s Assembly and run businesses for them. 8. They have business with the Supreme People’s Assembly members. 9. They have business with the Supreme People’s Assembly’s cabinet. 10. Takes out government positions or commissions. 11. They fire the President, Vice president, anyone that they think is not doing their job. 12. They fire people from the Standing Committee as well. 13. They elect judges and dismiss them. 14. They create or destroy treaties with other nations. 15. They declare plans to deal with other nations. 16. They give out metals, honorary names and such. 17. They have the power to forgive people. 18. They correct boundaries. 19. They deal with businesses with foreign nations.
117. They represent the Supreme People’s Assembly and the nation. 118. The Supreme People’s Assembly has a meeting.
Note the following portion has been translated by Jungmin Yun 112. The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly has Plenary Meetings and Meetings of the Permanent Committee. The Plenary Meeting consists of all members. The Meeting of the Permanent Committee consists of the President, VicePresidents, and Secretary-General. 113. The Plenary Meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly discusses and decides important matters in fulfilling the duties and authority of the Presidium. The Meeting of the Permanent Committee discusses and decides matters entrusted by the Plenary Meeting. 114. The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly announces decrees, decisions and directives. 115. The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly sets up the Committees to help with its work. 116. The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly is accountable about its work to the Supreme People’s Assembly.
5. THE CABINET 117. The Cabinet is the administrative body of the highest State power and organ of overall State administration. 118. The Cabinet consists of the Premier, Vice-Premiers, Chairmen, Ministers, and other necessary members. The term of office of the Cabinet is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly. 119. The Cabinet has the following duties and authority: 1. making measures for the implementation of the State policies 2. adopting, amending or supplementing the regulations on State administration on the basis of the Constitution and the laws 3. directing the work of the Commissions and Ministries of the Cabinet, organs directly under the Cabinet, and local people’s committees 4. establishing or abolishing organs directly under the Cabinet, major administrative and economic bodies, and enterprises and making measures for improving State administration bodies 5. outlining the State plan for the development of the national economy and making measures to implement it 6. compiling the State budget and making measures to implement it 7. organizing and executing the work of industries, agriculture, construction, transport, communications, commerce, trade, land administration, municipal administration, education, science, culture, health service, physical culture and sport, labor administration, protection of environment, sightseeing, and so on 8. making measures to strengthen the monetary and banking system 9. inspecting and controlling the establishment of order in State administration 10. making measures to maintain public order, protecting the property and interests of the State and social, cooperative organizations and safeguarding the rights of citizens 11. concluding treaties with foreign countries and conducting external affairs 12. rescinding the decisions and directives of administrative and economic bodies that run against to the decisions and directives of the Cabinet 120. The Premier of the Cabinet organizes and guides the work of the Cabinet. The Premier of the Cabinet represents the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. 121. The Cabinet has Plenary Meetings and Meetings of the Permanent Committee. The Plenary Meeting of the Cabinet consists of all members of the Cabinet. The Meeting of the Permanent Committee consists of the Premier, Vice-Premiers and other members of the Cabinet appointed by the Premier. 122. The Plenary Meeting of the Cabinet discusses and decides the new and important administrative and economic matters. The Meeting of the Permanent Committee discusses and decides matters entrusted by the Plenary Meeting of the Cabinet. 123. The Cabinet announces decisions and directives. 124. The Cabinet can have non-permanent committees to help with its work. 125. The Cabinet is accountable about its work to the Supreme People’s Assembly and to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly when the Supreme People’s Assembly is in recess. 126. The newly-elected Premier of the Cabinet takes an oath on behalf of the members of the Cabinet at the Supreme People’s Assembly. 127. The Commissions and Ministries of the Cabinet are departmental executive bodies of the Cabinet and central departmental bodies of administration. 128. The Commissions and Ministries of the Cabinet supervise and guide the work of the filed concerned in a uniform way under the guidance of the Cabinet. 129. The Commissions and Ministries of the Cabinet run committee meetings and cadre meetings. The committee meeting and cadre meeting discuss and decide the measures for the implementation of the decisions and directives of the Cabinet and
other important matters. 130. The Commissions and Ministries of the Cabinet announce directives.
6. THE LOCAL PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY 131. The People’s Assembly of the province (or municipality), city (or district) and county is the local organ of State power. 132. The local People’s Assembly consists of deputies elected on the principle of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. 133. The term of office of the People’s Assembly of the province (or municipality), city (or district) and county is four years. A new local People’s Assembly is elected according to the decision of the local People’s Committee at the corresponding level before its term of office is expired. When unavoidable circumstances make an election impossible, the term of office is extended until the election. 134. The local People’s Assembly has the following duties and authority: 1. discussing and approving the reports on the local plan for the development of the national economy and on its implementation 2. discussing and approving the reports on the local budget and on its implementation 3. making measures to observe State laws in the area concerned 4. electing or recalling the Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, Secretary and members of the People’s Committee at the corresponding level 5. electing or recalling the Judges and People’s Assessors of the Court at the corresponding level 6. rescinding wrong decisions and directives of the People’s Committee at the corresponding level and the People’s Committees at lower levels 135. The local People’s Assembly has regular and temporary meetings. Regular meetings are convened once or twice a year by. Temporary meetings are convened when the People’s Committee at the corresponding level considers them necessary or at the request of a minimum of one-third of the total number of deputies. 136. The local People’s Assembly requires at least two-thirds of the total number of deputies in order to meet. 137. The local People’s Assembly elects its Chairman. The Chairman presides over the meetings. 138. The local People’s Assembly announces decisions.
7. THE LOCAL PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE 139. The People’s Committee of the province (or municipality), city (or district) and county is the local organ of State power when the People’s Assembly at the corresponding level is in recess and the administrative organ of State power at the corresponding level. 140. The local People’s Committee consists of the Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, Secretary and members. The term of office of the local People’s Committee is the same as that of the corresponding People’s Assembly. 141. The local People’s Committee has the following duties and authority: 1. convening meetings of the People’s Assembly 2. organizing the election of deputies to the People’s Assembly 3. working with the deputies to the People’s Assembly 4. implementing the decrees and decisions of the corresponding local People’s Assembly and the People’s Committees at higher levels, and the decisions, order and directives of the National Defence Commission, the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the Cabinet, and the Commissions and Ministries of the Cabinet 5. 6. 7. 8.
organizing and carrying out all administrative affairs in the given area outlining the local plan for the development of the national economy and making measures to implement it compiling the local budget and making measures for its implementation making measures to maintain public order, protecting the property and interests of the State and social, cooperative organizations and safeguarding the rights of citizens in the given area 9. inspecting and controlling the establishment of order in State administration in the given area 10. directing the work of the People’s Committees at lower levels 11. rescinding wrong decisions and directives of the People’s Committees at lower levels, and suspending the implementation of wrong decisions of the People’s Assemblies at lower levels. 142. The local People’s Committee has Plenary Meetings and Meetings of the Permanent Committee. The Plenary Meeting of the local People’s Committee consists of all members. The Meeting of the Permanent Committee consists of the Chairman, Vice-Chairmen and Secretary. 143. The Plenary Meeting of the local People’s Committee discusses and decides important matters in implementing its duties and authority. The Meeting of the Permanent Committee discusses and decides matters entrusted by the Plenary Meeting. 144. The local People’s Committee announces decisions and directives.
145. The local People’s Committee can have non-permanent committees to help with its work. 146. The local People’s Committee is accountable about its work to the corresponding People’s Assembly. The local People’s Committee is subordinate to the People’s Committees at higher levels and the Cabinet.
8. THE PUBLIC PROSECUTORS OFFICE AND THE COURT 147. Prosecution is conducted by the Central Public Prosecutors Office, the Public Prosecutors Offices of the province (or municipality), city (or district) and county and the Special Public Prosecutors Office. 148. The term of office of the Prosecutor General of the Central Public Prosecutors Office is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly. 149. Public prosecutors are appointed or removed by the Central Public Prosecutors Office. 150. The Public Prosecutors Office does the following job: 1. ensuring the strict observance of State laws by institutions, enterprises, organizations and citizens 2. ensuring that the decisions and directives of State bodies conform with the Constitution, the laws and ordinances, decisions of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the decisions and orders of the National Defence Commission, the decrees, decisions and directives of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and with the decisions and directives of the Cabinet 3. exposing and instituting legal proceedings against criminals and offenders in order to protect the State power of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the socialist system, the property of the State and social, cooperative organizations, and personal rights and the people’s lives and property 151. Prosecution is conducted under the unified direction of the Central Public Prosecutors Office, and all Public Prosecutors Offices are subordinate to their higher offices and the Central Public Prosecutors Office. 152. The Central Public Prosecutors Office is accountable about its work to the Supreme People’s Assembly and to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly when the Supreme People’s Assembly is in recess. 153. Justice is administered by the Central Court, the Court of the province (or municipality), city (or district), the People’s Court, and the Special Court. Verdicts are delivered in the name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. 154. The term of office of the Chief Justice of the Central Court is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly. The term of office of Judges of the Central Count, the Court of the province (or municipality), city (or district), and the People’s Court and People’s Assessors is the same as that of the People’s Assembly at the corresponding level. 155. The Chairman and Judges of the Special Court are appointed or removed by the Central Court. The People’s Assessors of the Special Court are elected by soldiers of the unit concerned or by employees at meetings concerned. 156. The Court has the following functions: 1. protecting through judicial procedure the State power and the socialist system of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the property of the State and social, cooperative organizations, and personal rights and the people’s lives and property 2. ensuring that all institutions, enterprises, organizations and citizens abide strictly by State laws and actively combat class enemies and all law-breakers 3. giving judgments and findings with regard to property and conducting notarial work 157. Justice is administered by a Court consisting of one Judge and two People’s Assessors. In special cases there can be three Judges. 158. Court cases are heard in public and the accused is guaranteed the right of defence. Hearings may be closed to the public as stipulated by law. 159. Judicial proceedings are conducted in the Korean language. Foreign citizens can use their own language in the court. 160. The Court is independent in justice, and judicial proceedings are carried out by the law. 161. The Central Court is the highest judicial organ of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Central Court supervises the judicial activities of all the Courts. 162. The Central Court is accountable about its work to the Supreme People’s Assembly and to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly when the Supreme People’s Assembly is in recess.
7. EMBLEM, FLAG, ANTHEM, AND CAPITAL 163. The national emblem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea bears the design of a grand hydroelectric power station under Mt. BaekDoo, the sacred mountain of the revolution, and the beaming light of a five-pointed red star, with ears of rice forming an oval frame, bound with a red ribbon saying <<The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea>>. 164. The national flag of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea consists of a central, broad red panel, bordered both above and below by a narrow white stripe and a blue stripe. The central red panel bears a five-pointed red star within a white circle. The ratio of the width to its length is 1:2. 165. The national anthem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is << Aegukka>>.
166. The capital of the Democratic Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of Korea is Pyungyang.