ion: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972,
revised again in April 1992 and September 1998

Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: KIM Chong-il; note--in September 1998, KIM Chong-il
was reelected Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a
position accorded the nation's "highest administrative authority";
KIM Young-nam was named President of the Supreme People's Assembly
Presidium and given the responsibility of representing the state and
receiving diplomatic credentials
head of government: Premier HONG Song-nam (since 5 September 1998)
cabinet: renamed DPRK Cabinet (naegak) on 5 September 1998; was
previously called the State Administrative Council; Cabinet members,
except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by
the Supreme People's Assembly
elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
election results: NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or
Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--the
KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without
opposition; minor parties hold a few seats

Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme
People's Assembly

Political parties and leaders: major party--Korean Workers' Party
chairwoman]

International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICRM,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU,
NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--North Korea has a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol

Diplomatic representation from the US: none

Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red
(triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the
hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed
star

Economy

Economy--overview: North Korea is the world's most centrally
planned economy. Agricultural land is collectivized, state-owned
industry produces nearly a