The Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea () is the supreme administrative organ of North Korea and the executive organ of the Supreme People's Assembly, the highest organ of state power. The Cabinet's official newspaper is Minju Choson.
History
In North Korea's first constitution, adopted in 1948, the executive powers were vested in the Cabinet, chaired by Kim Il Sung himself.
The 1972 constitution saw the establishment of the post of President of North Korea which led the executive branch, and the cabinet was split into two organizations: The Central People's Committee () and the State Administration Council (). The Central People's Committee provided the highest visible institutional link between the party and the government and served in effect as a de facto super-cabinet. According to the 1972 constitution, the Central People's Committee, chaired by President of North Korea, exercised wide range of powers such as shaping the internal and external policies of the state, direct the work of the Administration Council and provincial people's committee, supervising the execution of the constitution, laws and ordinances of the Supreme People's Assembly, establish or abolish ministries, executive bodies of the Administration Council and appoint or remove vice premiers, ministers and other members of the Administration Council and also to declare a state of war and enacting mobilization orders in case of emergency. Article 104 gave the authority to the CPC to adopt decrees and decisions and issue directives.Dae-Sook Suh & Chae-Jin Lee. Political Leadership in Korea. The 1972 Constitution and Top Communist Leaders, p. 197 The National Defence Commission was then one of the sub-committees of this body.Article 105 of the 1972 Constitution
The State Administration Council was guided by the CPC and was led by a premier (chong-ri) and included vice premiers (bochong-ri), ministers (boojang), committee chairmen, and other cabinet-level members of central agencies. It was responsible for the formulation of state economic development plans and measures for implementing them, the preparation of the state budget, and the handling of other monetary and fiscal matters.A Country Study: North Korea- 1993- Library of Congress
1982 saw the People's Armed Forces and Public Security Ministries assigned directly to the President together with the State Inspection Commission.
In 1990, by a CPC decision, the National Defence Commission became fully independent from it as a separate institution, and 1992 constitutional amendments assigned it directly to the Supreme People's Assembly. In 1998 amendments to the Constitution, the Central People's Committee and the State Administration were abolished, and the Cabinet was re-created. Thus, the Cabinet is not only the highest administrative and executive organ but was also expanded to become the general State management organ.
Emphasizing its expanded role, in January 1999 Kim Jong Il stated that
Selection
The cabinet is appointed and accountable to the Supreme People's Assembly, the North Korean unicameral parliament. The SPA chooses the Premier of North Korea (Leader of the Cabinet) who appoints three vice premiers and the cabinet's ministers. All members of the cabinet are members of the Workers' Party of Korea which rules the country since its establishment in 1948. While the SPA is not in session, the cabinet is accountable to the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.Article 125 of the Constitution of North Korea
, some 260 people have served as cabinet ministers. Six of them have been women: Ho Jong-suk (Minister of Culture, Justice), Pak Chong-ae (Agriculture), Yi Yang-suk (Commerce, Textile and Paper Industries), Pak Yong-sin (Culture), Yi Ho-hyok (Foodstuff and Daily Necessities Industries), and Yun Gi-jong (Finance).
Powers and responsibilities
The Cabinet, as the executive branch of the North Korean state, is responsible for implementing the state's economic policies, as guided by the Workers' Party. The cabinet is not responsible for defense and security issues, as those are handled by the State Affairs Commission. Thus, the security organizations such as the Korean People's Army, Ministry of Social Security and State Security Department report and subordinated directly to the SAC, whose chairman holds full power as the supreme leader of the republic and the party and overall commander-in-chief of all uniformed forces.Articles 100 and 103 of the Constitution of North Korea The Cabinet convenes a plenary meeting and an executive meeting.Article 127 of the Constitution of North Korea The plenary meeting consists of all the Cabinet members, while the executive meeting is kind of a presidium, and comprises fewer people, including the Premier, vice premier and other Cabinet members whom the Premier nominates. The cabinet acts in the form of decisions and directives.Article 129 of the Constitution of North Korea In the performance of its mandate the Cabinet is empowered by the Constitution to:Article 125 of the Constitution of North Korea adopt measures to execute state policy. institute, amend, and supplement regulations concerning state management based on the Constitution and ministerial laws. guide the work of the Cabinet commissions, ministries, direct ministries and subordinate agencies of the Cabinet and the local people's committees set up and remove direct ministries and agencies, main administrative economic organizations, and enterprises, and adopt measures to improve the State management structure. draft the State plan for the development of the national economy and adopt measures to put it into effect. compile the State budget and adopt measures to implement it. organize and exercise works in the fields of industry, agriculture, construction, transportation, communications, commerce, trade, land management, city management, education, science, culture, health, physical training, labor administration, environmental protection, tourism and others. adopt measures to strengthen the monetary and banking system. do inspection and control work to establish a state management order. adopt measures to maintain social order, protect State and social cooperation body's possession and interests, and to guarantee citizens’ rights. conclude treaties with foreign countries, and conduct external activities. abolish decisions and directions by economic administrative organs, which run counter to the decisions or directions made by its members.
Those Cabinet ministries that oversee economic sectors also control groups of industries called "complexes". These complexes consist of partially or fully state-owned industrial facilities like factories, mines, or farms, depending on the sector. At a local level, the Cabinet supervises the Local People's Committees.
Structure
As of 22 March 2026, the Cabinet consists of the following members: +PositionMinisterPolitical partyTook officeRefPremierPak Thae-songWorkers' Party29 December 2024First Vice PremierKim Tok-hunWorkers' Party22 March 2026Vice Premier and Chairman of the State Planning CommissionPak Jong-gunWorkers' Party17 January 2021Vice PremierJon Hyon-cholWorkers' Party22 March 2026Vice PremierPak HunWorkers' Party22 March 2026Vice PremierRi Kyong-ilWorkers' Party22 March 2026Vice PremierKim Chang-sokWorkers' Party22 March 2026Vice PremierJon Sung-gukWorkers' Party8 June 2022Vice Premier and Chairman of the Agricultural CommissionRi Chol-manWorkers' Party30 December 2023Minister of Foreign AffairsChoe Son-huiWorkers' Party8 June 2022Minister of Public SecurityPang Tu-sopWorkers' Party30 July 2024Secretary General of the CabinetKim Kum-cholWorkers' Party17 January 2021Minister of Metallurgical IndustryKim Kwang-namWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Chemical IndustryKim Son-myongWorkers' PartyJanuary 2026Minister of Electric Power IndustryKim Yu-ilWorkers' Party17 January 2021Minister of Coal IndustryRi Yong-cholWorkers' Party22 March 2026Ministry of RailwaysKim Ha-gyuWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Land and Maritime TransportJo Jong-ryongWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Mining IndustryRi Sang-doWorkers' Party30 December 2023Minister of Natural Resources DevelopmentKwon Song-hwanWorkers' Party29 December 2024Minister of ForestryHan Yong-hoWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Machine-Building IndustryRi Kwang-namWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Nuclear Power IndustryWang Chang-ukWorkers' Party11 April 2019Minister of Shipbuilding at the Second Economy CommissionKim Kwang-ilWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of IT IndustryJu Yong-ilWorkers' Party17 January 2021Minister of Construction and Building-Materials IndustrySo Jong-jinWorkers' Party17 January 2021Minister of State Construction ControlYang Ki-songWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Light IndustryRi Yong-gunWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Regional IndustryKim Chol-bomWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of FisheriesYun Song-cholWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of FinanceRi Myong-gukWorkers' Party1 July 2024Minister of LaborJin Kum-songWorkers' Party17 January 2021Minister of External Economic RelationsWorkers' Party17 January 2021Chairman of the State Commission of Science and TechnologyKim Song-binWorkers' Party8 October 2024President of the State Academy of SciencesKim Sung-jinWorkers' Party29 December 2019Minister of Land and Environment ProtectionYang Yong-jinWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Urban ManagementKim Son-ilWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Disaster ManagementKim Chol-namWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Grain AdministrationKim Kwang-jinWorkers' Party27 September 2023Minister of CommerceKim Yong-sikWorkers' Party29 December 2024Minister of EducationKim Chol-namWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Public HealthKim Tu-wonWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of CultureHyon Un-cholWorkers' Party22 March 2026Minister of Physical Culture and SportsKim Il-gukWorkers' PartyDecember 2016President of the Central BankPaek Min-gwangWorkers' Party27 September 2023Director of the Central Bureau of StatisticsRi Chol-sanWorkers' Party17 January 2021
See also
Politics of North Korea State Council of South Korea
References
External links