State Affairs Commission of North Korea
| 조선민주주의인민공화국 국무위원회 | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 29 June 2016 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Type | Supreme policy-oriented leadership body in North Korea |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| Headquarters | Forbidden City, Pyongyang |
| Agency executives |
|
Politics of North Korea |
|---|
 |
 North Korea portal
|
| DPRK State Affairs Commission | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선민주주의인민공화국 국무위원회 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國國務委員會 |
| Revised Romanization | Joseon minjujuui inmin gonghwaguk gungmu wiwonhoe |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn minjujuŭi inmin konghwaguk kungmu wiwŏnhoe |
The State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SAC) is defined by the 2016 constitution as "the supreme policy-oriented leadership body of State power."[1] The current president of the SAC, which is defined by the same constitution as the head of state of the nation.[2]
History[]
The National Defence Commission was created in 1972 as per the 1972 Constitution, originally the commission's mandate was to supervise national defense matters within North Korea.[3]
Per the 4th plenary session of the Supreme People's Assembly in June 2016 the National Defence Commission was officially replaced by the State Affairs Commission, with an expanded focus towards other national concerns aside from defense and security.
Powers and responsibilities[]
Article 106 of the Constitution of North Korea defines the State Affairs Commission as the supreme state organ of policy direction of state sovereignty.[1] Article 109 of the Constitution states that the SAC's powers are to:[4] [5]
- deliberate and decide on major policies of the State including defence and security policies;
- exercise supervision over the fulfillment of the orders of the President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the decisions and directives of the Commission, and take measures for their fulfillment;
- abrogate decisions and directives of State organs which run counter to the orders of the President of the SAC-DPRK and the decisions and directives of the Commission in its meetings.
In practice, SAC supervises the Cabinet of North Korea. It also directly supervises the three ministries that are not under the Cabinet, namely the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Social Security as well as the Korean People's Army, mainly the General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army and General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army. The Supreme Guard Command which is responsible for the top leadership and government protection is also under its command. One additional entity, the , is also under the SAC as its Chairman is appointed by the Commission.[6][7]
Members[]
The following are the current members of the State Affairs Commission as of 29 September 2021:[8][9][10]
| President of the State Affairs Commission | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | Political party | Member since | Other positions | ||
|
Kim Jong-un 김정은 (born 1984) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | ||
| First Vice President of the State Affairs Commission | |||||
| First Vice President | Political party | Member since | Other positions | ||
|
Choe Ryong-hae 최룡해 (born 1950) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | ||
| Vice President of the State Affairs Commission | |||||
| Vice President | Political party | Member since | Other positions | ||
| Kim Tok-hun 김덕훈 (born 1961) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 September 2021 | |||
| Members of the State Affairs Commission | |||||
| Member | Political party | Member since | Other positions | ||
|
Kim Yong-chol 김영철 (born 1945) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 |
| |
| Jong Kyong-thaek 정경택 |
Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2018 | |||
|
Ri Son-gwon 리선권 |
Workers' Party of Korea | 12 April 2020 |
| |
| Jo Yong-won 조용원 (born 1957) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 September 2021 | |||
| Pak Jong-chon 박정천 |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 September 2021 | |||
| O Su-yong 오수용 (born 1944) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 September 2021 |
| ||
|
Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1955) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 September 2021 | ||
| Jang Jong-nam 장정남 |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 September 2021 | |||
김성남 (born 1953) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 September 2021 |
| ||
|
Kim Yo-jong 김여정 (born 1987) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 September 2021 |
| |
List of members since 2016[]
The following is the list of members of the State Affairs Commission since its first election on 29 June 2016. Names in bold indicates that they are a current member of the State Affairs Commission. Names are listed in their order of election.
| No. | Member | Political party | Term | Position in the State Affairs Commission | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Kim Jong-un 김정은 (born 1984) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2019 | Chairman | |
| 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | ||||||
| 2 | 
|
Hwang Pyong-so 황병서 (born 1949) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2018 | Vice Chairman | |
| 3 | 
|
Choe Ryong-hae 최룡해 (born 1950) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2019 | Vice Chairman | |
| 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | First Vice Chairman | |||||
| 4 | Pak Pong-ju 박봉주 (born 1939) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2019 | Vice Chairman | ||
| 11 April 2019 | 29 September 2021 | ||||||
| 5 | 
|
Kim Ki-nam 김기남 (born 1934) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2018 | Member | |
| 6 |
|
Pak Yong-sik 박영식 (born 1950) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2019 | Member | |
| 7 | 
|
Ri Su-yong 리수용 (born 1945) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2019 | Member | |
| 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | ||||||
| 8 | Ri Man-gon 리만건 (born 1945) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2018 | Member | ||
| 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | ||||||
| 9 |
|
Kim Yong-chol 김영철 (born 1945) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2019 | Member | |
| 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | ||||||
| 10 |
|
Kim Won-hong 김원홍 (born 1945) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2018 | Member | |
| 11 | Choe Pu-il 최부일 (born 1944) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2019 | Member | ||
| 11 April 2019 | 12 April 2020 | ||||||
| 12 | 
|
Ri Yong-ho 리용호 (born 1956) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 29 June 2016 | 11 April 2019 | Member | |
| 11 April 2019 | 12 April 2020 | ||||||
| 13 | Kim Jong-gak 김정각 (born 1944) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2018 | 11 April 2019 | Member | ||
| 14 | Thae Jong-su 태종수 (born 1936) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2018 | 11 April 2019 | Member | ||
| 11 April 2019 | 12 April 2020 | ||||||
| 15 | Jong Kyong-thaek 정경택 |
Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2018 | 11 April 2019 | Member | ||
| 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | ||||||
| 16 | Kim Jae-ryong 김재룡 |
Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | Member | ||
| 17 | Kim Su-gil 김수길 (born 1956) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | Member | ||
| 18 | 
|
No Kwang-chol 노광철 (born 1956) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2019 | 12 April 2020 | Member | |
| 19 | 
|
Choe Son-hui 최선희 (born 1964) |
Workers' Party of Korea | 11 April 2019 | Incumbent | Member | |
See also[]
- Government of North Korea
- Military of North Korea
- National Defence Commission
References[]
- ^ a b Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 2016, Article 106.
- ^ Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 2016, Article 100.
- ^ "SECTION 2. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA". Naenara. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- ^ Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 2016, Article 109.
- ^ Overview of North Korea’s NBC Infrastructure
- ^ "Organizational Chart of North Korean Leadership" (PDF). Seoul: Political and Military Analysis Division, Intelligence and Analysis Bureau; Ministry of Unification. January 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ Coduti, Maria Rosaria. The State Affairs Commission and the consolidation of Kim Jong-un's power
- ^ "In full: promotions and demotions at North Korea's 14th SPA". NK PRO. Korea Risk Group. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Second-day Sitting of 5th Session of 14th SPA of DPRK Held". KCNA Watch. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "At 5th Session of 14th Supreme People's Assembly of DPRK". KCNA Watch. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Works cited[]
| Active forces | |
|---|---|
| Paramilitary and reserve forces | |
| Senior leadership | |
- Politics of North Korea
- Military of North Korea
- State Affairs Commission
- 2016 establishments in North Korea