North Korea Elections: Rare Mention of Dissenting Votes Raises Questions
Elections in North Korea
Held Regularly, But with Little Choice
Elections in North Korea are held every four-to-five years for the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the country's national legislature, and every four years for Local People's Assemblies. Parliamentary elections were expected to be held in North Korea in March or April 2024, but it is considered likely they were delayed or cancelled due to a lack of communication from the government. There is only one choice on a North Korean ballot paper. Voters drop their ballot into one of two boxes—white for "Yes" and black for "No"—but "No" has never won.
Kim's Nuclear Ambitions
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has long focused on forcing Washington into accepting the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power. He may be intent on driving up tensions in a US election year with a view to influencing the outcome.
Rare Mention of Dissenting Votes
On Tuesday, November 28, North Korea made a rare mention of dissenting votes in recent elections. Analysts dismissed it as an attempt to portray an image of a more democratic process. However, the report raises questions about the true nature of elections in the isolated country.
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