DPRK’S SOCIALIST CONSTITUTION

The socialist constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was adopted on December 27, 1972.

The Korean people significantly celebrate this day as the Socialist Constitution Day every year.

The socialist constitution defines that the state is guided by the Juche idea and the Songun idea in its activities.

The Juche idea and the Songun idea authored by President Kim Il Sung, the founder of the DPRK and founding father of socialist Korea, and developed in depth by Chairman Kim Jong Il of the DPRK National Defence Commission are the ideological and theoretical banners for achieving the independence of the masses of the people. Advocating that man is the master of the world and of his own destiny and has the power to transform nature and society and shape his destiny, the Juche idea regards it as its fundamental principle to realize the independence of the masses of the people. The basic objective of the Songun idea which has taken its root in the Juche idea is to defend the independence of the masses from the challenge and threat of imperialists and dominationists. The embodiment of the Songun idea in reality is just Songun politics.

The constitution radically enhances the authority of the National Defence Commission in state mechanism in keeping with the actual reality of Korea in which Songun politics is being administered in an all-round way and with the requirements of the times. The constitution provides the Korean people with a firm legal guarantee for staunchly defending by force of arms the people-centred socialist system in any adversity and triumphantly advancing the cause of building a thriving socialist nation.

Based on the Juche idea and the Songun idea, the constitution stipulates that the DPRK’s is a people-centred social system under which the working people are the masters of everything and everything in society serves them. The state champions the interests of the working people who have been freed from exploitation and oppression and become the masters of the state and society, and respects and protects their rights.

The constitution stipulates: “The sovereignty of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea resides in the workers, peasants, soldiers, working intellectuals and all other working people. The working people exercise State power through their representative organs–the Supreme People’s Assembly and local People’s Assemblies at all levels.”

10.9 per cent of the deputies elected to the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly are workers, 10.1 per cent farmers, 16.9 per cent service personnel, 15.6 per cent women and 90.4 per cent academic degree or title holders, scientists, technicians and specialists. These figures clearly show on how high level the people take part in the state governance. The same holds true of the local power organs at all levels such as the provincial, city and county People’s Assemblies.

It is natural that the state power organs in the hands of the working people should carry on the genuine people-oriented legislation activities for defending and realizing the people’s interests.

The socialist constitution defines that the steady improvement of the people’s material and cultural life is regarded as the supreme principle of the state activities.

The DPRK is a tax-free country. In this country where the socio-economic sources of exploitation and poverty were completely eliminated and all kinds of taxes were abolished, the increasing material wealth of society are used entirely for the well-being of the working people, the masters of state power and means of production.

Actually, the DPRK defends and protects the independent demand and interests of the working masses and provides them with all living conditions ranging from food, clothing and housing, with a mission as the master responsible for the livelihoods of the people.

   All the members of society are equally provided with all rights as social beings, including political freedom and rights, free education and free medical care.

According to the socialist constitution, all citizens who have reached the age of 17 have the right to elect and to be elected, irrespective of sex, race, occupation, length of residence, property status, education, party affiliation, political views or religion. Besides, citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech, the press, assembly, demonstration and association and the state provides democratic political parties and social organizations with conditions for free activity. Citizens have the freedom of religious beliefs. This right is granted by approving the construction of religious buildings and the holding of religious ceremonies.

The state provides educations to all students free of charge and grants stipend to students of universities and colleges. It also intensifies social education and provides the working people with all conditions for study. It brings up all children of preschool age in nurseries and kindergartens at state and public expenses. Along with this, it protects the people’s lives and promotes their health by consolidating and developing the system of universal free-medical care service, improving the section doctor system and implementing the policy of preventive medicine.

The state legally guarantees all the citizens’ right to work and relaxation. All able-bodied citizens choose occupations in accordance with their wishes and skills and the state provides them with stable jobs and working conditions. This right is ensured by the establishment of the working hours, the provision of holidays, paid leave, accommodation at health resorts and holiday homes at state expanse and by a growing network of cultural facilities.

The DPRK’s socialist constitution that has emerged as the constitution of the people-centred socialist country is a political charter that legally consolidates all victories and achievements the Korean people have made in the revolution and construction under the banner of the Juche idea and that defines various principles to be maintained in all the fields of state and social life, including politics, the economy, culture and national defence as well as the important tasks arising in socialist construction.

Enjoying the people’s absolute support for the past four decades as a law of the people themselves, the socialist constitution has given a powerful stimulus to the revolution and construction.