Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, emphasized the critical role of the coal industry in economic development while casting his vote in the Supreme People’s Assembly elections.
On Monday, the Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported that the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly delegate elections were held across all electoral districts in North Korea on March 15. The paper noted that Kim visited the polling station at the Chonsung Youth Coal Mine of the Suncheon District Youth Coal Mining Union to cast his ballot.
The newspaper stated that after voting for Jo Cheol-ho, the manager of the Chonsung Youth Coal Mine and a candidate for the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim inspected the mine’s facilities and production status. Key officials, including Kim Jae-ryong, Ri Il-hwan, Kim Tok-hun, and Kim Yo-jong, accompanied him during the visit.
Kim declared that for people to survive, it must excel at grain farming, and for the nation to thrive, it must excel at coal mining. He stressed that the backbone industries driving the nation’s prosperity rely on coal as both fuel and raw material.
He further noted that at the recent 9th Party Congress, they set a goal to increase coal production by 20% as part of the new five-year plan. Kim asserted that the coal sector is strategically crucial for national development and achieving the five-year plan objectives.
During last month’s Party Congress, Kim expressed significant confidence in North Korea’s economic achievements. His visit to the polling station in the coal mining region during this election appears to reinforce the value of self-reliance, particularly in the coal sector, to the North Korean people.
The Supreme People’s Assembly elections in North Korea are comparable to congressional elections in the U.S. As the highest sovereign institution under North Korean law, the Supreme People’s Assembly serves to formalize decisions made by the Workers’ Party into state policies, including those of the Cabinet.
According to the newspaper, voting concluded in all electoral districts nationwide by 6:00 p.m. (Korean time) the previous day, with a reported turnout rate of 99.99%. The paper also noted that district election committees are currently finalizing the voting results, suggesting that official results will be released soon.