{"id":10146,"date":"2023-12-23T01:25:16","date_gmt":"2023-12-23T00:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northkoreainfo.com\/?p=10146"},"modified":"2023-12-23T01:25:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-23T00:25:16","slug":"what-type-of-democracy-does-north-korea-have","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northkoreainfo.com\/what-type-of-democracy-does-north-korea-have\/","title":{"rendered":"What Type Of Democracy Does North Korea Have"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Background <\/h2>\n

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, is a one-party authoritarian state with a centrally planned economy. It is a society with a level of political control and limited freedom of expression unparalleled in the modern world. North Korea is a mystery to outsiders and the little information that is available suggests its leadership is harsh, brutal and oppressive. The government is led by a single political party, the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP), whose leader, Kim Jong Un, holds absolute power and has continually refused to recognize the basic rights of its citizens.<\/p>\n

Political System <\/h2>\n

North Korea claims to be a “juche” state – a highly centralized system of government under a single-party leadership. The ideological basis of the juche system is a blend of Korean nationalism and Marxism-Leninism. The KWP has exclusive control over the organisation of society and all levels of government. The party is responsible for setting policy, selecting leaders and deciding on political, economic and security strategy. North Korea’s constitution guarantees citizens freedom of speech, assembly and association, although these rights are generally not respected in practice.<\/p>\n

Voting System<\/h2>\n

Voting in North Korea is not free and fair, with only one slate of candidates approved by the KWP allowed to contest each election. As the constitution is itself subservient to the party, it does not provide meaningful checks and balances to ensure the civil rights of its citizens are upheld. The result of these elections is always a landslide victory for the KWP, and turnouts are artificially inflated to boost its share of votes. This is often done through the use of a public-voting system, in which citizens are “persuaded” to vote in order to demonstrate loyalty to the party.<\/p>\n

Circumstances<\/h2>\n

The political system in North Korea is extremely oppressive, with little space for any voice of dissent or challenges to the regime. The economy is heavily sanctioned by the international community, resulting in a lack of resources to meet even its most basic needs. The media and internet are heavily censored and access to the outside world is restricted. This lack of access to information has resulted in most North Koreans being unaware of the realities of life beyond its borders.<\/p>\n

Impact <\/h2>\n