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North Korea: Government

Key Figures

Chief of State:
State Affairs Commission President Kim Jong Un
Head of Government:
Supreme People's Assembly President Choe Ryong Hae

Overview

Government Name:
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Constitution:
Adopted: 1942; Last amended in 2012. Establishes status as a socialist state and defined as a dictatorship of people's democracy. People have civil and political rights but they are superseded by safeguarding the political and ideological unity of the people.
Government Type:
Communist State under Totalitarian Dictatorship.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea Flag
Coat of Arms of Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Index of Economic Freedom

Grades each country on a scale of 0 to 100, based on ten freedoms, with 100 representing the greatest amount of economic autonomy from government intervention. Source: Heritage Foundation (2023)

Country Risk Rating

There is no Country Risk Rating for North Korea

Government Branches

Main Powers Election Process Election Cycle 1
Executive

The Cabinet is the administrative and executive body of the highest organ of state power and a general state management organ.

No credible election process.

Until dismissal by the Chief of State.

Judicial

The judiciary does not practice judicial review. The security forces so often interfere with the actions of the judiciary that the conclusion of most cases is foregone. Experts outside North Korea and numerous defectors confirm this to be a widespread problem.

Elections in North Korea are non-competitive and have only single candidate races.

5 years
Legislative

The Supreme People's Assembly always passes all proposals by the government into law during its sessions with almost no debate or modification.

Elections in North Korea are non-competitive and have only single candidate races.

5 years

Regional Trade Blocs

No Regional Trade Blocs

International Organization Participation [2]

Environmental Agreements [3]

Tax Information [2]

Tax Authority:
Information not available
Tax Name:
Information not available

Sources:

  1. ElectionGuide http://www.electionguide.org/
  2. EY, http://www.ey.com
  3. CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
  4. U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/