North Korea conducts parliamentary elections amid high reported turnout

Monday 16 March 2026 - 13:31

North Korea held parliamentary elections on Sunday to select delegates for its Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the legislature responsible for approving state policy and appointing top government officials, according to state media reports.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that nearly 99.99% of eligible voters participated in the vote. Leader Kim Jong Un cast his ballot at the Chonsong Youth Coal Mine polling station, accompanied by senior officials and his sister, Kim Yo-jong.

This election was the first parliamentary vote in seven years, following the country’s recent party congress. Candidates included local managers, government officials, and representatives from various state sectors, including Jo Chol-ho, a youth coal mine manager and SPA candidate who received Kim’s vote.

In remarks following the vote, Kim emphasized the importance of coal workers, describing them as a “core element of national development” and a “driving force” for the country’s self-reliant economy. Coal remains central to North Korea’s industrial and energy strategy.

The SPA typically convenes every five years, but changes to the national constitution and political schedule have occasionally modified election timelines. Kim previously served as an SPA deputy until 2014 but did not run in subsequent elections until the current cycle.

Observers note that North Korea’s elections, while largely ceremonial in nature according to external analysts, remain a key element in demonstrating the government’s control over political appointments and public participation in state processes.