North Korea convened the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, officially launching a new era of state governance by re-electing Kim Jong Un as Chairman of the State Affairs Commission.
According to the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea’s ruling party, the first meeting of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly took place on March 22 in Pyongyang. This session, the first in seven years since the 14th Assembly, saw the participation of newly elected delegates and key officials from the Party Central Committee, Cabinet, and military institutions. Kim personally attended the meeting to oversee the power restructuring process.
The election of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission was the first item on the agenda, with Kim receiving unanimous support for re-election. North Korea emphasized Kim’s role as the leader embodying the nation’s dignity and strength, reaffirming his central position in the country’s development and governance.
Kim has held this position since his initial election during the 4th session of the 13th Supreme People’s Assembly in June 2016, followed by his re-election at the first meeting of the 14th Assembly in 2019. His re-election at this meeting aligns with the North Korean constitution, which stipulates that the Chairman’s term coincides with that of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
The election of state leadership institutions also saw key appointments. Jo Yong Won was elected as the Chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly, with Kim Hyung-sik and Ri Sun-gwon named as vice chairmen.
Jo Yong-won was also appointed as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, while Kim Hyung-sik and Ri were elected as vice chairmen. Jo’s election to head the legislative body, given his influential role in leading the Party’s organizational guidance department, signals a further consolidation of the Party-centered governance structure.
Pak Thae-song was re-elected as Cabinet Prime Minister. In his oath, he outlined the establishment of a strong economic foundation and improvement of living standards as core objectives, emphasizing the need to bolster the cabinet responsibility system and cabinet-centered governance.
The State Affairs Commission underwent a significant restructuring, including new appointments for the Chief Prosecutor and Chief Justice. Various sectoral committees, such as the Legislative Committee, Budget Committee, and Foreign Affairs Committee, were also elected.
The meeting addressed several crucial agenda items, including the election of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, state leadership institutions, and sectoral committees. It also covered amendments to the socialist constitution, the implementation of the five-year national economic development plan, and budget matters for 2025 and 2026.
The inclusion of constitutional amendments and the review of the five-year economic plan implementation suggests that the governance direction and policy framework established under Kim’s leadership will likely undergo institutional refinement through this meeting.