Over 70 per cent of North Korea’s lawmakers have been replaced after the latest vote, signalling a major internal reshuffle as the country prepares for key political decisions.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks ahead of an International Women’s Day performance at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on March 8, 2026. (Yonhap via IANS)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has secured an overwhelming victory in the country’s latest Parliamentary Elections, with state-backed candidates winning virtually every vote and seat, according to reports cited by Yonhap News Agency.
The polls, held on March 15, saw an official turnout of 99.99 per cent, with the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and its allies claiming 99.93 per cent of the vote in elections to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly.
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The newly elected assembly is expected to meet soon for its first session, where it will take up crucial decisions on leadership appointments and possible amendments to the country’s constitution. The session comes shortly after the ruling party’s ninth congress last month, indicating a broader political reset.
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According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the assembly will formally elect the president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and discuss revisions to the Socialist Constitution. One key question is whether North Korea will formally define its relationship with South Korea as openly hostile within its legal framework.
Observers are also watching closely to see if Kim outlines any fresh direction for the country’s foreign policy during the session. He is widely expected to be reappointed as head of the State Affairs Commission, reinforcing his grip on power.
The election results also point to a major internal shake-up. More than 70 per cent of the deputies have reportedly been replaced since the last term, a move analysts see as an attempt to strengthen Kim’s control over the political system.
Among the 687 lawmakers is senior aide Jo Yong-won, who is expected to take on a key leadership role in the assembly. In contrast, former chairman Choe Ryong-hae was removed from his position during the recent party congress and does not feature in the new list.
The new line-up also includes Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, both seen as influential figures within the regime.
State media described the elected representatives as individuals drawn from workers, farmers, and officials, tasked with advancing the party’s objectives.
It also reported that 0.07 per cent of voters opposed the candidates, a figure often viewed by observers as an attempt to present the process as participatory, despite widespread perceptions that elections in North Korea are largely symbolic.
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