“The election of deputies to the Provincial, City and County People’s Assemblies, which is taking place today, is of an important significance to fortify our people’s power”.
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According to ABC, the North Korean state media announced, “All participants took part in the elections with extraordinary enthusiasm to cement the revolutionary power through the elections of deputies to the local people’s assemblies”.
It added that voters unable to go to polling stations due to old age or illness participated in the elections via mobile ballot boxes.
While touring the production base, Kim said North Korea needs to modernize its trains, and provided instructions for producing more electric locomotives using the “latest technology”.
Sources inside North Korea also said Kim Jong Un’s instructions to drive out foreign-made goods meant eliminating private business because the government’s intention is to collect all money which is now circulating in the market.
Of course, as The Economist reported this morning, there isn’t a lot of choice: the ballot paper includes one candidate for each position in their local area, each of which represents the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland (that’s Kim Jong-Un’s party, naturally).
During each four-year term, the local assemblies convene once or twice a year to approve budgets and endorse leaders appointed by the ruling party.
But any real notions of democracy end with the name.
Defector Kim Kwang-jin said in CNN that the elections also functions as an unofficial census to keep track of the citizens.
On Sunday, the North’s Korean Central News Agency said that the North will hold a variety of events to mark the 70th anniversary in Pyongyang and the truce village of Panmunjom on August 13-15. So who were the 0.03%, some 5,000 souls, who failed to exercise their duty?
Kim Jong-un, or the “supreme leader” cast his vote in Pyongyang, praising the candidates for their contribution to the progress of the country.
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If the two sides agree, it will be the first time in ten years for the Koreas to hold jointly celebrate Liberation Day.
