Eternal President of the Republic
| Eternal President of the Republic |
|
|---|---|
 Emblem |
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| Appointer | Amendment in the North Korean Constitution |
| Inaugural holder | Kim Il-sung |
| Formation | September 5, 1998 (constitutional amendment) |
| Eternal President of the Republic | |
|---|---|
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 공화국의 영원한 주석 |
| Hancha | 共和國의 永遠한 主席 |
| McCune–Reischauer | Konghwagugŭi Yŏngwŏnhan Chusŏk |
| Revised Romanization | Gonghwagugui Yeongwonhan Juseok |
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| This article is part of the series: Politics and government of North Korea |
|
The appellation Eternal President of the Republic (공화국의 영원한 주석, lit. "Eternal Chairman of the Republic") was established by a line in the preface to the North Korean constitution, as amended on September 5, 1998. It reads: "Under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Korean people will hold the great leader Comrade Kim Il-sung in high esteem as the eternal President of the Republic..."[1] According to Ashley J. Tellis and Michael Wills, this amendment to the preamble is an indication of the unique DPRK characteristic of being a theocratic state based on a cult of personality revering Kim Il-sung. In addition, North Korea adopted a Juche calendar dating from 1912, the year of Kim Il-sung's birth.[2]
As of 2013[update] there is no President of the DPRK, as the office was abolished in the 1998 constitution. Instead, its powers were divided between three offices: the head of government, Premier Pak Pong-ju (As of 2013[update]); the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong-nam (As of 2013[update]); and the head of the military, the Chairman of the National Defence Commission, Kim Jong-Un. The latter Kim is also the leader of the Workers' Party, and is reckoned as "Supreme Leader" and de facto head of state, with absolute control over the country.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Constitution of North Korea (1972) Wikisource
- ^ Ashley J. Tellis; Michael Wills (30 September 2007). Domestic Political Change and Grand Strategy. NBR. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-9713938-8-2. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
