North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has claimed a landslide victory in the country’s latest parliamentary election after his party secured 99.93 per cent of the votes.
The long-time ruler has also pledged to make the country “less backwards” as he prepares to lead the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), alongside his influential younger sister, Kim Yo-jong.
According to reports cited by Yonhap News Agency, the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and its allies secured 99.93 percent of the vote, winning all 687 seats in the SPA under what observers described as tightly controlled conditions.
Under the system, all North Koreans aged 17 and above were required to either approve or reject a single candidate nominated by the ruling party.
The results showed that all candidates were approved, with 99.93 percent voting in favour and just 0.07 percent voting against.
Authorities also reported a turnout of 99.99 percent, highlighting the highly controlled nature of the electoral process.
The vote, held on March 15, selected deputies for the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, which is expected to convene soon in Pyongyang to decide key leadership positions and consider possible constitutional changes.
One notable development from the election is the scale of internal restructuring, with over 70 percent of deputies being new members, suggesting a significant shift within the political system.
Analysts believe the reshuffle allows Kim Jong-un to consolidate power by replacing older figures with loyal allies. Among those expected to take on prominent roles is Jo Yong-won, a close aide to the leader.
Meanwhile, veteran politician Choe Ryong-hae has reportedly been removed from key positions and excluded from the new list of deputies, indicating shifting internal dynamics.
Other key figures, including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, were also elected, further strengthening Kim’s inner circle.
The upcoming parliamentary session is expected to reappoint Kim Jong-un as head of the State Affairs Commission, reaffirming his position as the country’s supreme leader.
Observers also suggest that lawmakers may revise the constitution to redefine relations with South Korea, potentially declaring the South a hostile state in a major policy shift.
