National Defence Commission of North Korea
Encyclopedia
The National Defense Commission of North Korea (NDC) is defined by the 1998 constitution
as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters.” The Chairman of the National Defense Commission controls the armed forces
and, in this state where the military pre-dominates, is the most powerful position in the country. It is currently held by Kim Jong-Il
.
The First Session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK was re-elected Kim Jong Il chairman of the NDC of the DPRK while Chang Sung-taek
as the deputy chairman.
and the State Inspection Commission) was separated from the State Administration Council, presently the DPRK Cabinet, and made responsible to the president alone. On December 24, 1991, however, the constitutional and legal requirements were muddied when it was announced that President Kim's son and heir apparent, Kim Jong Il, had been named supreme commander
of the Korean People's Army
, succeeding his father who was the KPA's founding commander-in-chief since its founding.
North Korea needed a legal basis if Kim Jong-il was to take full control of the military after he ascended to the position of supreme commander of the people's army, a position without legal or administrative power. The 3rd session of the Supreme People's Assembly revised the constitution in April 1992, abolishing the state president's concurrent chairmanship of the National Defence Commission, and made the commission an independent body.
The new 1992 constitution continued a trend of increasing the importance and independence of the National Defense Commission. Links to the Central People's Committee were apparently severed and the commission became directly subordinate to the Supreme People's Assembly. Under previous constitutions, the president was empowered as the supreme commander of the armed forces and as chairman of the National Defense Commission.
The 1992 state constitution deleted clauses in the 1972 constitution that stipulated that the president was supreme commander of the armed forces and chairman of the National Defense Commission, shifting powers instead to the Supreme People's Assembly and the National Defense Commission. Under the revisions, the president retains only the power to recommend the election or recall of the chairman of the National Defense Commission. The younger Kim assumed chairmanship of the commission in April 1993.
The National Defense Commission was separated from the Central Committee
at the 1st session of the 9th-term Supreme People's Assembly in April, 1998, and was given a status equal to its former ruling body. The 1st session of the 10th-term Supreme People's Assembly on September 5, 1998 enhanced the status of the National Defence Commission to a top organ of the state by placing management and direction of all military affairs and defense projects under the commission's authority. The National Defense Commission, though nominally under the Supreme People's Assembly, was confirmed as the highest state body, with ultimate executive power (including responsibility for the armed forces) resting with its chairman, Kim Jong-il.
Constitution of North Korea
The Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea.Previous constitutions were adopted in 1948, 1972, 1992, and 1998...
as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters.” The Chairman of the National Defense Commission controls the armed forces
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
and, in this state where the military pre-dominates, is the most powerful position in the country. It is currently held by Kim Jong-Il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
.
The First Session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK was re-elected Kim Jong Il chairman of the NDC of the DPRK while Chang Sung-taek
Chang Sung-taek
Chang Sung-taek, is a North Korean politician and the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il. He is a leading figure in the North Korean government, and South Korean government officials and academic North Korea watchers suggested that he may have taken on de facto leadership over North Korea due to Kim...
as the deputy chairman.
History
At the Seventh Supreme People's Assembly on April 5, 1982, the Ministry of People's Armed Forces (along with the Ministry of Public SecurityMinistry of Public Security
Ministry of Public Security can refer to:* Ministry of Public Security of Burundi* Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China* Ministry of Public Security of Costa Rica* Ministry of Public Security of Israel...
and the State Inspection Commission) was separated from the State Administration Council, presently the DPRK Cabinet, and made responsible to the president alone. On December 24, 1991, however, the constitutional and legal requirements were muddied when it was announced that President Kim's son and heir apparent, Kim Jong Il, had been named supreme commander
Supreme Commander
Supreme Commander may refer to:* Commander-in-chief, a military rank**Supreme Allied Commander, title held by the most senior commander within certain multinational military alliances...
of the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
, succeeding his father who was the KPA's founding commander-in-chief since its founding.
North Korea needed a legal basis if Kim Jong-il was to take full control of the military after he ascended to the position of supreme commander of the people's army, a position without legal or administrative power. The 3rd session of the Supreme People's Assembly revised the constitution in April 1992, abolishing the state president's concurrent chairmanship of the National Defence Commission, and made the commission an independent body.
The new 1992 constitution continued a trend of increasing the importance and independence of the National Defense Commission. Links to the Central People's Committee were apparently severed and the commission became directly subordinate to the Supreme People's Assembly. Under previous constitutions, the president was empowered as the supreme commander of the armed forces and as chairman of the National Defense Commission.
The 1992 state constitution deleted clauses in the 1972 constitution that stipulated that the president was supreme commander of the armed forces and chairman of the National Defense Commission, shifting powers instead to the Supreme People's Assembly and the National Defense Commission. Under the revisions, the president retains only the power to recommend the election or recall of the chairman of the National Defense Commission. The younger Kim assumed chairmanship of the commission in April 1993.
The National Defense Commission was separated from the Central Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the twentieth century and of the surviving, mostly Trotskyist, states in the early twenty first. In such party organizations the...
at the 1st session of the 9th-term Supreme People's Assembly in April, 1998, and was given a status equal to its former ruling body. The 1st session of the 10th-term Supreme People's Assembly on September 5, 1998 enhanced the status of the National Defence Commission to a top organ of the state by placing management and direction of all military affairs and defense projects under the commission's authority. The National Defense Commission, though nominally under the Supreme People's Assembly, was confirmed as the highest state body, with ultimate executive power (including responsibility for the armed forces) resting with its chairman, Kim Jong-il.
Composition of the DPRK NDC (for the 2009-2013 term, amended during 2010 WPK Party Conference)
- Chairman: Marshal of the DPRK Kim Jong-ilKim Jong-ilKim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
(1993-) - Vice Chairmen of the Commission:
- Chang Sung-taekChang Sung-taekChang Sung-taek, is a North Korean politician and the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il. He is a leading figure in the North Korean government, and South Korean government officials and academic North Korea watchers suggested that he may have taken on de facto leadership over North Korea due to Kim...
, Secretary, WPK Administrative Department - Vice Marshal of the KPA Kim Yong-ChunKim Yong-ChunKim Yong-Chun is a leader of the North Korean military. He holds the North Korean military rank Chasu, is Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, and is chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army.-Reference:...
, Minister of the People's Armed Forces - Vice Marshal of the KPA Ri Yong-mu
- General of the Army O Kuk-ryolO Kuk-ryolO Kuk-ryol is a North Korean military general and since April 2009, has been a vice chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea as head of its Operations Department...
- Chang Sung-taek
- Members of the Commission:
- Ju Kyu-chang, 1st Deputy Secretary, Department of Military Industries
- Vice Marshal of the KPA Ri Yong Ho, Chief of the KPA General Staff
- General of the Army Ju Sang-song, Minister of People's Security
- General of the Army Kim Jong-gak, 1st Deputy Director, KPA-GPB
- General of the Army Choe Ryoe-hae
- Colonel General U Tong-chuk
- Lieutenant General Choe Kyong-song
- Major General Kim Kyong Ok
- Reserve Major General Kim Myong-guk
- Colonel-Commandant Kim Won-hong