The 13th Supreme People’s Assembly will convene for the
first time in Pyongyang next month, the North Korean state media has revealed.
According to a brief piece published this morning by Chosun
Central News Agency, “The 1st Session of the 13th Supreme People’s Assembly of
the DPRK will convene in Pyongyang on April 9th, Juche 103 (2014), according to
a decree of the Presidium [Standing Committee] of the SPA on Wednesday.” A
second report added that the process of registering delegates would take place in the
North Korean capital on April 7th and 8th.
The first SPA elections of the Kim Jong Eun era took place
nationwide on March 9th, conferring a veneer of legitimacy upon of a
total of 687 delegates. Normally, an SPA term runs for five years.
Next month’s 1st session of the 13th
SPA is expected to confirm new and revised appointments to organs including the
National Defense Commission and Cabinet, and to hear reports on North Korea’s
previous national budget and review a new draft. However, the SPA also has the
constitutional right to amend or supplement the Constitution, as well as adopting
or amending laws, and electing or recalling a range of state officials, meaning that a range of additional outcomes are possible.
