2003 North Korean parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in North Korea on 3 August 2003. Representatives were elected for five-year terms to all 687 seats of the Supreme People's Assembly, and also to 26,650 positions in city, county, and provincial People's Assemblies.[1] All candidates were members of the three parties constituting the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland. Most polling booths featured posters saying: "Let's participate in the voting for deputies to the People's Assembly and give our support to them!".[2] There was a 99.9% turnout for the election with each candidate receiving 100% of the vote unopposed.[3] In its first session, on 3 September, the newly elected parliament re-elected Kim Jong-il as the Chairman of the National Defence Commission.[2] Significance of the number 649 in North Korean politicsKim Jong-il's seat was the 649th seat, and in North Korea, political meanings are imparted to numbers of the constituencies for cult of personality purposes. According to North Korean sources, multiplying 6, 4 and 9 gives the number 216, which coincides with Kim Jong-il's birthday, 16 February, and 4 times 9 plus 6 gives the number 42, which coincides with Kim Jong-il's official birth year, 1942.[4] Results
Elected membersThe following were elected as members of parliament:[5]
References
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