Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, 2003: Democratic People's Republic of Korea

摘要

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) is a dictatorship under the absolute rule of Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party (KWP) since October 1997. In 1998, the Supreme People's Assembly reconfirmed Kim Jong Il as Chairman of the National Defense Commission and declared that position the 'highest office of state.' The presidency was abolished, leaving Kim Jong Il's father, the late Kim Il Sung, as the DPRK's 'eternal president.' During the year, the Korean People's Army (KPA) continued to displace the KWP as Kim Jong Il's chief instrument for making and implementing policy. The titular head of state is Kim Yong Nam, the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. Elections for the 687-member Assembly were held in August. Only the KWP and two small satellite parties participated. The elections were not free. Kim Jong Il and his father were the objects of an intense personality cult and the regime continued to cling to 'juche,' a national ideology of self-reliance, even though the population was dependent on international aid for its survival. The judiciary is not independent.