Legal System of North Korea

North Korea is located in East N Southeast Asia. It is geographically situated in eastern asia, northern half of the korean peninsula bordering the korea bay and the sea of japan, between china and south korea. The country achieved independence on 15 august 1945 (from japan). The capital is Pyongyang.

Government Overview

Government Type: dictatorship, single-party communist state Chief of State: State Affairs Commission President KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011) Head of Government: Supreme People’s Assembly President CHOE Ryong Hae (since 11 April 2019) Cabinet: Cabinet or Naegak members appointed by the Supreme People’s Assembly, except the Minister of People’s Armed Forces Administrative Divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 special administration cities (si, singular and plural)

provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P’yongbuk (North Pyongan), P’yongnam (South Pyongan), Ryanggang

special administration cities: Kaesong, Nampo, P’yongyang, Rason National Holiday: Founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948) Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and compulsory

Legal System

The legal system of North Korea is described as civil law system based on the Prussian model; influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: previous 1948, 1972; latest adopted 1998  Amendment Process: proposed by the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA); passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the total SPA membership

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of one judge and 2 “People’s Assessors” or, for some cases, 3 judges) Judge Selection: judges elected by the Supreme People’s Assembly for 5-year terms Subordinate Courts: lower provincial courts as determined by the Supreme People’s Assembly

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral Note: note: the SPA functions as a rubberstamp legislature; the Korean Workers’ Party selects all candidates

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and compulsory

Historical Background

The first recorded kingdom (Choson) on the Korean Peninsula dates from approximately 2300 B.C. Over the subsequent centuries, three main kingdoms -- Kogoryo, Paekche, and Silla -- were established on the Peninsula. By the 5th century A.D., Kogoryo emerged as the most powerful, with control over much of the Peninsula and part of Manchuria (modern-day northeast China). However, Silla allied with the Chinese to create the first unified Korean state in 688.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of North Korea based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.