2026 North Korea Parliamentary Elections Deliver 99.93% Approval for 687 Deputies

North Korea held elections for the 15th Supreme People's Assembly on 15/03/2026, with state media reporting that all 687 seats were filled by candidates backed by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and allied organizations, receiving 99.93% approval and a reported turnout of 99.99%. The vote, conducted with one approved candidate per constituency, followed a two-year delay from the expected 2024 timeline and came shortly after the ruling party congress in February 2026. Official figures released by the Central Election Committee stated that 0.07% of ballots were cast against the candidates, marking the first publicly reported dissent in such elections since 1957. The Supreme People's Assembly functions as North Korea's legislature, formally approving policies and appointing senior officials, although decision making authority remains concentrated within the ruling party leadership. State media reported that leader Kim Jong Un cast his vote at a coal mine workplace, highlighting economic priorities tied to a national five year plan. Participation reportedly included citizens abroad in allied countries, and ballot collection also used mobile voting for elderly or ill voters. The newly elected assembly includes 687 deputies for the 15th term, with the published list confirming the presence of Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, who has held influential roles in party and diplomatic affairs. The first session of the new assembly was scheduled for 22/03/2026 in Pyongyang, where deputies are expected to elect top state positions, review national policy priorities, and deliberate constitutional revisions. Analysts cited in reporting indicated that one possible amendment could formally define South Korea as a hostile state, reflecting a shift in inter Korean policy direction. The March 2026 election replaced the previous assembly elected in 2019 and followed a party congress that reaffirmed Kim Jong Un as general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. The rapid scheduling of the first session within one week of the vote differed from earlier practice, where new assemblies typically convened about a month later. The agenda for the opening meeting also included selection of leadership posts, discussion of a five year plan, and consideration of budget and constitutional matters.