Judiciary of North Korea

North Korea
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of North Korea
Constitution Juche  (state ideology) Songun  ("military-first" policy) Eternal President of the Republic Kim Il-sung
Workers' Party Chairman: Kim Jong-un Congress (7th) Charter Central Committee (7th) Politburo Presidium Executive Policy Bureau Central Military Commission Chairman: Kim Jong-un Organization and Guidance Department Kim Il-sung Socialist Youth League
State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un Korean People's Army Supreme Commander: Kim Jong-un
Government Cabinet Premier: Pak Pong-ju Judiciary Central Court Legislature President: Kim Yong-nam Presidium
Recent elections Parliamentary: 2003 2009 2014
Administrative divisions First-level Provinces Special cities Second-level Third-level Eup  (city) Dong  (neighborhood) Ri  (village) Rodonjagu  (workers' district)
Foreign relations
Related topics Censorship Human rights Kim dynasty Korean reunification Propaganda Illicit activities Law (Enforcement • Security Ministry)
Other countries Atlas

In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea), the Central Court is the highest court, with its judges appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly. According to the Constitution of North Korea, the Central Court is accountable to the Supreme People's Assembly, and the Criminal Code subjects judges to criminal liability for handing down "unjust judgments".

Central Court of North Korea

Highest court and court of Appeal in North Korea.

The court is headed by a Chief Judge or President, two Associate Chief Judges/Vice Presidents and unknown number of regular Justices.^[1]

The court's home was completed in 2010^[2]

Former Chief Judges and Associate Judges

• Pang Hak Se 1972-1992; Chief Judge
• Kim Pyong Ryul 1998-2012; died 2013^[3]
• Choe Yong-song - Associate Judge
• Hyon Hong-sam - Associate Judge

Lower Courts of North Korea

Below the high court are two other judicial levels:^[4]

• Provincial Court or Court of the Province - 9 courts
• People's Courts or Court of the County

Judicial independence

Article 157 of the Constitution states that "cases are heard in public, and the accused is guaranteed the right to a defense; hearings may be closed to the public as stipulated by law".~~~ The lack of judicial independence is also evidenced by Article 11 of the Prosecution Supervisory Law that stipulates “The prosecutor(s) shall supervise whether the trial or arbitration of a case is accurately deliberating and resolving the legal requirements and in a timely manner.”^[5]

Organization

The Constitution states that justice is administered by the Central Court, Provincial or special-city level courts, the People’s Court or Special Courts, and the courts are accountable to the Supreme People’s Assembly or when it is not in session, its Presidium.^[6]

References