Korea North Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Type: Communist state; one-man rule

Capital: P’yongyang

Political subdivisions: nine provinces, four special cities (P’yongyang, Kaesong, Namp’o, and Chongjin)

Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; constitution adopted 1948 and revised 1972; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: 9 September

Branches: Supreme People’s Assembly theoretically supervises legislative and judicial functions, State Administration Council (cabinet)oversees ministerial operations

Got ernment leaders: KIM 11-song, President (since December 1972); KANG Song-san, Premier (since January 1984)

Suffrage: universal at age 17

Elections: election to SPA every four years, but this constitutional provision not necessarily followed—last election February 1982

Political party and leaders: Korean Workers’ Party (KWP); Kim 11-song, General Secretary, and his son, Kim Chong-il, Secretary

Communists: KWP claims membership of about 2 million, or about 11% of population

Member of: FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IPU, ITU, NAM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO; official observer status at UN

NOTE: The information regarding Korea North on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Korea North 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Korea North 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.