12th Supreme People’s Assembly Election Announced

Elections for delegates to the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), a role technically equivalent to that of a Congressman in the U.S., will take place in March.

The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly announced on the 6th, “According to Article 90 of the Socialist Constitution of the DPRK, the 12th delegate election for the Supreme People’s Assembly will take place on March 8.”

According to the Socialist Constitution, the tenure of delegates is five years, so the 11th Supreme People’s Assembly delegates’ terms of office expired in September of 2008. However, North Korea delayed the election until now.

Regarding that fact, South Korean experts on North Korea presume that it was because officials would not have been able to implement the election in accordance with the required schedule due to Kim Jong Il’s unexpected incapacitation.

Some now suggest that, in the wake of the announcement of the election schedule, North Korean politics may resume operating in the customary manner, with Kim taking the reins and making public appearances.

When the new delegates to the Supreme People’s Assembly have been elected, they will naturally have Kim Jong Il as National Defense Chairman again, so the third term of the current Kim Jong Il administration can be officially launched in March.

After which, the settlement of the last year and the budget for the coming fiscal year can be dealt with by the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly.