The chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, formerly known as the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, is the presiding officer of the

Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA; ) is the legislature of North Korea. It is ostensibly the highest organ of state power and the only branch of government in North Korea, with all state organs subservient to it under the principle of unified ...

, which is the permanent body of the

Supreme People's Assembly The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA; ) is the legislature of North Korea. It is ostensibly the highest organ of state power and the only branch of government in North Korea, with all state organs subservient to it under the principle of unified ...

, North Korea's

highest organ of state power The supreme state organ of power, also known as the highest state organ of power, is the representative organ in communist states that functions as the sole branch of government according to the principle of unified power. For example, the governm ...

. The chairman is formally elected by the SPA. The chairman organizes and guides the work of the Standing Committee, and presides over its work. Additionally, the chairman receives credentials and letters of recall of diplomatic representatives accredited by foreign countries. The chairman is assisted by vice chairpersons and a secretary-general, who together comprise the Permanent Committee of the Standing Committee, The chairman is also, along with all other members of the SPA Standing Committee, a member of the Plenary Meeting of the Standing Committee.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 117 The current chairman of the Standing Committee is

Choe Ryong-hae Choe Ryong-hae (; born 15 January 1950) is a North Korean politician and military officer who currently serves as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly and First Vice President of the State Affairs Commission, hol ...

, who was chosen on 11 April 2019.

History

The 1948 Constitution created the position of Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly. The chairman presided over the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, which was given the power to ratify or annul treaties with foreign countries, appoint or recall ambassadors to foreign countries and receive letters of credentials or recall of foreign diplomatic representatives. This made the chairman of the SPA Standing Committee the ''de jure'' head of state of North Korea. Nominally, the Chairman of the SPA Standing Committee held the highest state post followed by the

premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of govern ...

Kim Il Sung Kim Il Sung (born Kim Song Ju; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he led as its first Supreme Leader (North Korean title), supreme leader from North Korea#Founding, its establishm ...

. The 1972 Constitution created the position of

President of North Korea The president of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea () was the head of state of North Korea from 1972 to 1998. The position was only occupied by Kim Il Sung from 1972 until Death and state funeral of Kim Il Sung, his death in 1994. Aside ...

who is tasked with being the country's head of state.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1972), Article 89 The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (under the new Korean title of 최고인민회의 상설회의 의장) was removed of its power to represent the state and was limited to doing legislative work as the concurrent

chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly The Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly () is the presiding officer of the Supreme People's Assembly, the legislature of North Korea.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Article 94 The Supreme People's Ass ...

.Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1972), Articles 86 and 87 The 1998 revision of the 1972 Constitution created the position under the new English translation of President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly with its powers as head of state restored. However, the 1972 Constitution was revised in April 2019 to designate the then-

Chairman of the State Affairs Commission The President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (), alternatively styled "President of State Affairs" in official translations, is the supreme leader and head of state of North Korea. The president cha ...

as the head of state, with the powers reserved to the head of state being transferred to the SAC chairman in August of the same year. In February 2022, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission began to be referred in English as the President of the State Affairs. This led to the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly being referred in English to its previous title of Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.

List of office holders

Timeline

References

Citations

Sources

; Works cited * {{Supreme People's Assembly Supreme People's Assembly Parliamentary titles