Elections in North Korea are held every four-to-five years for the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the country's national legislature, and every four years for Local People's Assemblies. Critics argue that North Korean elections are show elections which lack competition and allow the government to claim a veneer of legitimacy, with all candidates preselected and no option to write in other candidates. According to official reports, turnout is near 100%.
A propaganda poster in Pyongyang with the slogan "Let's all vote yes!" ("모두다 찬성투표 하자!")
If the voter wishes to cross off the name of the candidate it must be done with a red pen next to the ballot box.
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly 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 power. However, in practice it is a rubber stamp legislature which exists to approve decisions made by the ruling party as a formality, and which has little to no real power of its own.
Supreme People's Assembly
Image: Kim Tu bong 2
Image: Hwang Jang Yeop
Image: Kim Yong nam in Moscow
