8th Session of 14th SPA of DPRK Held

The 8th Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall from January 17 to 18.

Present at the session were the deputies to the SPA and as observers officials of the Party Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the SPA, the Cabinet, armed forces organs, ministries and national institutions, chairpersons of city and county people’s committees and officials concerned.

Taking the platform were Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, and Ri Pyong Chol, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK.

Also among those at the platform were Ri Il Hwan, Ri Yong Gil and Kim Jae Ryong, and members of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, vice-chairpersons, secretary general and members of the SPA Standing Committee and vice-chairperson of the SPA.

Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and chairman of the SPA Standing Committee, made an opening address.

When the session was declared open, the national anthem of the DPRK was played.

Prior to discussions on agenda items, the chairman and vice-chairman of the SPA were by-elected.

Upon authorization of the WPK Central Committee, Deputy Pak In Chol, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, was by-elected chairman of the SPA of the DPRK and Deputy Maeng Kyong Il, director of the Secretariat and presidium member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea, was by-elected vice-chairman of the SPA.

Chairman Pak In Chol presided over the meeting.

The session decided the agenda items of the 8th Session of the 14th SPA of the DPRK.

First, on the DPRK Cabinet’s work in Juche 111 (2022) and its tasks for Juche 112 (2023)

Second, on the fulfillment of the state budget for Juche 111 (2022) and on the state budget for Juche 112 (2023) of the DPRK

Third, on adopting the law of the DPRK on the protection of the cultured Pyongyang dialect

Fourth, on the work of the DPRK Central Public Prosecutors Office in Juche 111 (2022)

Fifth, an organizational matter

Deputy Kim Tok Hun, premier of the Cabinet, made a report on the first agenda item and Deputy Ko Jong Bom, minister of Finance, made a report on the second agenda item.

Then deputies made speeches.

Speakers said that the reports submitted to the deliberation of the SPA correctly reviewed the work of the Cabinet and the fulfillment of the state budget for last year, clearly set forth the main tasks to be carried out by the Cabinet in this year’s struggle to lay a decisive guarantee for the fulfillment of the five-year plan and drew up the state budget on the principle of supporting the buildup of national defence, economic development and improvement of the people’s living in financial harmony, expressing full support to them.

They analyzed and reviewed the achievements and shortcomings made and revealed in their fields and units last year from a critical and developmental point of view and referred to the tasks and ways for their fields and units to ensure the stable development of the national economy and bring about a substantial change in the people’s living.

Speakers raised the issues arising in developing the Cabinet’s work as required by the policies.

Deputy Kim Tok Hun, premier of the Cabinet, explained the issues related with the Cabinet’s work and the state’s economic and practical measures to solve them.

Unanimously adopted at the session were the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly’s decision "On approving the report on the work of the DPRK Cabinet and the fulfillment of the state budget for Juche 111 (2022)", and ordinance of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly "On the state budget of the DPRK for Juche 112 (2023)".

Deputy Kang Yun Sok, vice-chairman of the SPA Standing Committee, made a report on the third agenda item.

Saying that it is a law-governed requirement of the development of socialist national culture to protect and actively preserve the cultured Pyongyang dialect, he stressed the importance of thoroughly establishing a Juche orientation in everyday language.

The SPA Standing Committee brought up the draft law of the DPRK on the protection of the cultured Pyongyang dialect for deliberation of the SPA according to Article 95 of the Socialist Constitution.

Deputies had a study and discussion on the draft law.

The SPA decided to add the suggestions at the study and discussion to relevant articles of the draft law.

Speeches on the third agenda item were made.

The session adopted the ordinance of the Supreme People’s Assembly "On the Adoption of the Law of the DPRK on the Protection of Cultured Pyongyang Dialect" with unanimous approval.

Deputy U Sang Chol, director of the Central Public Prosecutors Office, made a report on the fourth agenda item.

The report detailed the work of the Central Public Prosecutors Office last year.

At the end of the report, the deputies presented their opinions on the work of the office.

Deputy U Sang Chol made public a proposal for the measures on the opinions.

The SPA examined the work of the office in 2022 and admitted that it had smoothly fulfilled its duty as stipulated in the Socialist Constitution and adopted a decision of the SPA "On approving the report of the DPRK Central Public Prosecutors Office’s work".

The session discussed the organizational matter as the fifth agenda item.

The vice-chairman and members of the SPA Standing Committee were recalled and by-elected.

Upon authorization of the WPK Central Committee, Deputy Kim Ho Chol was by-elected vice-chairman of the SPA Standing Committee and deputies Kim Su Gil, Thae Hyong Chol and Ri Hyok Chol were by-elected members.

The chairman and member of the Legislation Committee of the SPA were recalled and by-elected.

Deputy Ri Thae Sop was by-elected chairman of the Legislation Committee of the SPA and Deputy Kim Tu Il by-elected member of the committee.

Chairman Pak In Chol made a closing address.

The Eighth Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly was successfully held.