1998 North Korean parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in North Korea on 26 July 1998. 687 deputies were elected to the tenth Supreme People's Assembly. There was only one nominated candidate per constituency - 687 candidates for 687 seats. According to the state news agency KCNA, the turnout rate was 99.85%, and 100% of participating voters cast their ballots in favour of the registered candidates. About two thirds of the deputies were new, and deputies with a military background reportedly doubled in number. Kim Jong-il was unanimously elected in constituency n°666. According to a Rodong Sinmun editorial, this proved "how deep the Korean people's trust in Kim Jong Il is and how powerful and solid the monolithic unity of the people around him in one thought and purpose and with moral obligation is."

The election was three years overdue, the latest election having been in 1990. The planned 1995 elections were cancelled due to a period of mourning instituted after the death of Kim Il-sung. In its first session on 5 September 1998, the newly elected parliament amended laws to reflect the succession of Kim Jong-il.

Numerological significance of the number 666 in North Korean politics

Kim Jong-il's seat was the 666th seat, and in North Korea, political meanings are imparted to numbers of the constituencies for cult of personality purposes. Rodong Shinmun stated in its 1999 opinion piece "666: Legend of the Great Man" that the number is meaningful in the sense that the cube of 6 is 216, which coincides with Kim Jong-il's birthday, 16 February, and emphasizes that North Korea is the 6th state to exist in the Korean peninsula.

Results

Elected members

The following were elected as members of parliament:

Notes

References

1. 1990 North Korean parliamentary election
2. Elections in North Korea
3. 2003 North Korean parliamentary election
4. 1962 North Korean parliamentary election
5. 1998 in North Korea
6. Politics of North Korea
7. Outline of North Korea
8. History of South Korea
9. Korean Social Democratic Party
10. Supreme People's Assembly
11. Eternal leaders of North Korea
12. President of the State Affairs of North Korea
13. Korean People's Army
14. Government of North Korea
15. List of heads of state of North Korea
16. Constitution of North Korea
17. Korean War
18. Foreign relations of North Korea
19. List of diplomatic missions of North Korea
20. List of elections in 1998