Executive branch:
chief of state: KIM Chong-il (since NA July 1994); note - on 3
September 2003, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of the National
Defense Commission, a position accorded the nation's "highest
administrative authority"; KIM Yong-nam was reelected President of
the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and given the responsibility
of representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials
elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly;
election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA)
election results: HONG Song-nam elected premier; percent of Supreme
People's Assembly vote - NA%
cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of
People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
head of government: Premier PAK Pong-chu (since 3 September 2003);
Vice Premiers KWAK Pom-ki (since 5 September 1998), CHON Sung-hun
(since 3 September 2003), NO Tu-chol (since 3 September 2003)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA; the KWP approves a list of candidates who are elected without
opposition; some seats are held by minor parties
Judicial branch:
Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Chondoist Chongu Party [YU Mi-yong, chairwoman]; Social Democratic
Party [KIM Yong-tae, chairman]; major party - Korean Workers' Party
or KWP [KIM Chong-il, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ARF (dialogue partner), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS,
IHO, IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New
York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (Swedish Embassy in P'yongyang represents the US as consular
protecting power)
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;
the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is
a white disk with a red five-pointed star
Economy Korea, North