Politics 2024.10.10.

The 11th Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) of the DPRK took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall from October 7 to 8.

Present there were deputies to the SPA, and as observers officials of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Standing Committee of the SPA, the Cabinet, ministries, national agencies and armed forces organs, chairpersons of provincial, city and county people’s committees and other officials concerned in Pyongyang and local areas.

The platform was taken by senior officials of the Party, the government and the military including Kim Tok Hun, Choe Ryong Hae and Ri Pyong Chol who are Presidium members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, chairperson and vice chairpersons of the SPA, members of the State Affairs Commission and vice chairperson, secretary general and members of the Standing Committee of the SPA.

Deputy Pak In Chol, chairman of the SPA, made an opening address.

As the session was declared open, the national anthem of the DPRK was played.

The 11th Session of the 14th SPA of the DPRK brought up the following agenda items for discussion:

First, on amending and supplementing some contents of the Socialist Constitution of the DPRK

Second, on deliberating and adopting the Law of the DPRK on Light Industry

Third, on deliberating and adopting the Law of the DPRK on External Economic Affairs

Fourth, on the state of supervision of the enforcement of the Law of the DPRK on Quality Control

Fifth, organizational matter

Deputy Choe Ryong Hae, chairman of the SPA Standing Committee, made a report on the first agenda item.

He said that the outstanding ideology of the WPK on national building and action programme for it to meet the requirements of the changing and developing revolution and the aspirations and interests of the people should be specified in time in order to make the Socialist Constitution fully discharge its mission as a powerful legal weapon for glorifying the new era of a great power, an era of our state-first principle.

He noted that the content of amending the ages of citizens of the DPRK for working and participating in election was reflected in the relevant agenda item was reflected in the relevant agenda item as the age of students graduating from senior middle schools changes from this year after the adoption of the Law of the SPA on Enforcement of the Universal 12-Year Compulsory Education System.

He said that the ages of citizens for working and participating in election were rectified and stipulated in the drafts on amending and supplementing the Socialist Constitution so that the right of the schoolchildren to learn to their heart’s content under the benevolent care of the best socialist educational system and the right to devote their wisdom and passion to the prosperity of the country with a noble sense of the consciousness of civic duty are to be guaranteed by law.

Saying that it is the firm will of the DPRK government to usher in a new era of comprehensive national rejuvenation by remaining loyal to the outstanding ideology and leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, holding fast to the Socialist Constitution as a strong political weapon for building a powerful country, he proposed the relevant amended and supplemented plan to the current SPA for deliberation.

The session adopted with unanimous approval the Law of the SPA of the DPRK "On amending and supplementing some contents of the Socialist Constitution of the DPRK".

It discussed the drafts of the Law of the DPRK on Light Industry and the Law of the DPRK on External Economic Affairs as following agenda items.

Deputy Kang Yun Sok, vice chairman of the SPA Standing Committee, made a report on the second and third agenda items.

He said that the relevant draft laws reflected principled issues arising in providing a firm legal guarantee for the rapid development of light industry which plays an important role in improving the people’s living standard and in expanding the external economic relations in a diverse way, and explained the relevant contents according to chapters.

The SPA Standing Committee submitted the drafts of the Law of the DPRK on Light Industry and the Law of the DPRK on External Economic Affairs in accordance with Article 95 of the Socialist Constitution to the current SPA for deliberation.

Deputies Kim Myong Hun, Kim Chang Sok, Jo Yong Chol, Pak Kun Sok, Mun Yong Son, Yun Jong Ho, Sin Chang Il and Kim Hye Yong made speeches on the relevant agenda items at the session.

The speakers expressed full support, recognizing that the relevant drafts of the laws proposed for deliberation were worked out to be able to provide legal environment and conditions for the development of light industry directly related to the improvement of the people’s living standard and contribute to the independent and sustainable development of the national economy by conducting external economic affairs on a wide scale.

The session held study and consultative meetings on the drafts of the sector-specific laws and adopted the laws of the SPA of the DPRK "On Adopting the Law of the DPRK on Light Industry" and "On Adopting the Law of the DPRK on External Economic Affairs" through deliberation and supplement of the constructive opinions of deputies.

At the discussion of the fourth agenda item, a report on the supervision of the enforcement of the Law on Quality Control was made to be followed by speeches of Deputies Jo Kyong Guk, Ri Song Bom, Rim Sun Hui, Ri Yong Chol and Kim Yun Sil.

The reporter and speakers said that the quality of products is the one of important criterions showing the level of economic and technical development and civilization of the country, referring to the successes made in the work for improving the quality of products in hearty response to the important tasks set forth at the plenary meetings of the Party Central Committee and to a series of shortcomings to be overcome surely.

They vowed to further intensify the quality control work and enhance the role of the supervision organs so as to make positive contributions to the national economic development and the improvement of the people’s living standard, stressing that the observance of the law on quality control entirely is the defence of the people’s demand and interests and thoroughgoing implementation.

Deputies raised views and measures to improve quality control as required by the reality.

A decision of the SPA of the DPRK "On Thoroughly Executing the Law of the DPRK on Quality Control" was adopted at the session.

The organizational matter as its fifth agenda item was discussed.

No Kwang Chol was appointed as minister of National Defence of the DPRK.

Ri Man Su was appointed as minister of State Construction Control.

Kim Song Bin was appointed as chairman of the State Commission of Science and Technology.

Deputy Pang Tu Sop was by-elected as chairman of the Legislation Committee of the SPA.

Deputy Pak In Chol, chairman of the SPA, made a closing address.

The 11th Session of the 14th SPA successfully finished its work amid the high political consciousness and high enthusiasm of the participants to thoroughly guarantee the implementation of the state administration through their positive action and efforts for the prosperity of the great state and the promotion of the people’s well-being, deeply aware of their responsibility as representatives of the people.

Rodong Sinmun