[imText1]On the 29th, the Chosun (North Korea) Central News Agency reported that for the Local People’s Assembly representative elections that is held every four years, Kim Jong Il voted at the Hamju’s polling booth located at the Choosang Collective Farm.
The Chosun Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong Il was accompanied by the Central Committee’s Secretary Kim Ki Nam and Director Park Nam Ki and visited the polling site in the 85th Voting District’s 36th Division. After receiving voting ballots from the district chairman, Kim Jong Il voted for the district and county representative candidates separately.
Ordinary North Korean citizens vote at the district in which their resident registration is filed but Kim Jong Il presented an exception by voting for the regional candidates at the actual site of Hamju in South Hamkyung.
During the 11th Supreme People’s Assembly’s Representative Elections in 2003, Kim Jong Il was elected as the representative for the then 1st division of the 649th Voting District. However, the voting was conducted at the 658th Voting District located at the Kim Il Sung National War College which serves as the base for the military unit with the most elite academic and combat practice.
The Chosun Central News Agency reports that at that time, Kim Jong Il received a voting ballot from the 139th division of the 658th Voting District’s Committee Chairman at the voting site and voted for the representative candidate of the voting district, People’s Army Commissioned Officer Joo Soon Choel
Lee Joo Il, Defector and editorial writer for the Free North Korea Broadcasting (Free NK) stated, “Every citizen is ordered to vote at their respective voting districts but it shows that he [Kim Jong Il] votes in any voting district. Strictly speaking, it is wrong but citizens believe that it is acceptable for Kim Jong Il and thus they think it is reasonable.”
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Regional Institutions Structure Law regulates that the Local People’s Assembly consists of representative who are elected through a secret ballot while keeping to voting principles of being regulatory, fair and direct.
Kim Jong Il had attended the performance of the State Academy Beryozka Dance Troupe of Russia three days ago on the 26th at the Hamheung Grand Theater of South Hamkyung so it is assumed that he stayed around Hamheung for at least four days.
The North Korean Local People’s Assembly elections is a process of electing People’s Assembly representative at the province and the city under the direct control of the central government, and general cities, gun (county levels) and districts. At the election held in August 2003, 26,650 delegates were elected to the local People’s Assembly representative.
The election takes place by the sole candidate coming forth and people voting for or against the candidate.
Approaching the Representative Elections on the 29th, the North Korean authorities presented a poster with the election slogan “Let everyone vote in agreement” with a blatant campaign to induce agreement.
The Local People Assembly receives reports regarding the recognition and execution of the local budget and formulates strategies regarding the execution of national laws in respective regions. In addition, the Assembly executes the election and summons of the respective Chairman, Vice Chairman, Head Official and Committeeperson as well as the Judge of the respective courts.
Similarly, the Assembly has the authority to approve the budget and project plans as well as the structure of the Local Administrative Commission but in actuality only serves as an institution to ratify matters decided on by the Party.
Conversely, according to North Korean internal news sources, with the Assembly Elections, the Party is greatly enforcing controls on its citizens including national border regulations, concentrated regulations on cell phone use as well as returns from overseas travelers.
In addition, it is also reported that the National Security Agency and the Public Security Forces has enforced security measures for historical landmarks, exhibitions research labs and statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il by establishing surveillance groups consisting of peasant laborers from every institution and enterprise to stop anti-regime activity that may occur during the election period.
