SPA Session Held

The National Defense Commission, as of 13 April 2012 following the convocation of the 5th session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly.

Hours after the U’nha-3 crashed into the West (Yellow) Sea, the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] convened its 5th session.  This was the DPRK’s unicameral legislature’s annual session at which the annual budget was approved and a report on the work of the DPRK Cabinet given.  In addition to the SPA’s usual order of  business, Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) was appointed to the newly carved out position of First Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Kim Jong Il was given the title of Eternal NDC Chairman and three new members were added to the NDC.  Three Vice Premiers were appointed to the DPRK Cabinet and the SPA replaced its Secretary-General and filled vacancies on the SPA Legislation Committee.

KCNA reports:

Present there were Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army and supreme leader of the WPK and the people of the DPRK.

Deputies to the SPA were present.

Officials of the party, armed forces and power bodies, social organizations, ministries and national institutions and those in the fields of science, education, literature and arts, public health and media attended the session as observers.

The participants observed a moment’s silence in memory of leader Kim Jong Il.

Decisions were made on following agenda items at the session: 1. On revising and supplementing the Socialist Constitution of the DPRK 2. On electing the dear respected Comrade Kim Jong Un to top post of the DPRK 3. On the work of the Cabinet of the DPRK for juche100 (2011) and tasks for juche 101 (2012) 4. On the results of the implementation of the state budget of the DPRK for juche 100 (2011) and on the state budget for juche 101 (2012) 5. Organizational matter The first agenda item was discussed at the session.

Deputy Yang Hyong Sop made a report on revising and supplementing the Socialist Constitution of the DPRK.

Ordinance of the SPA of the DPRK “On approving the proposal for revising and supplementing the Socialist Constitution of the DPRK” was adopted with unanimous approval.

The second agenda item was discussed at the meeting.

Deputy Kim Yong Nam, president of the SPA Presidium made a speech recommending the dear respected Kim Jong Un to the top post of the DPRK.

He courteously proposed to the Supreme People’s Assembly the proposal of the C.C. and the Central Military Commission of the WPK on electing the dear respected Kim Jong Un as first chairman of the National Defence Commission, in reflection of the unanimous will of the party, the army and the people.

The proposal was fully supported and approved by all the deputies and the participants as it reflected the ardent desire and unanimous will of all the party members, servicepersons and other people.

The session solemnly declared that Kim Jong Un, has been elected as first chairman of the NDC of the DPRK.

The participants broke into rousing cheers of “Hurrah!” looking up to Kim Jong Un.

Deputy Choe Yong Rim, premier of the Cabinet, made a report on the third agenda item.

He said that last year the gross industrial output value grew 2 percent and the production of electricity generated at hydraulic power stations, iron ore, electrolytic zinc, power generators, fertilizers and magnesia clinker showed a remarkable growth over the previous year.

This year the Cabinet will concentrate all efforts on light industry and agriculture and exert utmost efforts for laying a solid foundation for building an economic power in warm response to the flames of the industrial revolution in the new century and the flames kindled in South Hamgyong Province, ensuring the combat preparations of the People’s Army and providing a material guarantee for the development of the national defence industry, he stressed.

Deputy Choe Kwang Jin, minister of Finance, made a report on the fourth agenda item.

He said that last year the state budgetary revenue was over-fulfilled 1.1 percent, of which the plan for local budgetary revenue was over-fulfilled 12.8 percent. He said that the state budgetary expenditure was implemented at 99.8 percent and 15. 8 percent of the total state budgetary expenditure was allocated as defence spending.

He said that the plan for state budgetary revenue is expected to grow 8.7 percent and the plan for state budgetary expenditure 10.1 percent over last year. He pointed out that 15.8 percent of the total state budgetary expenditure is to be spent for national defence and a large amount of educational aid fund and stipends will be sent for the children of Koreans in Japan.

Written speeches were made by deputies on the third and fourth agenda items.

The speakers said that it is the greatest pleasure and honor of the army and people of the DPRK that Kim Jong Un was elected to the top post of the DPRK.

They noted that the work of the Cabinet and the implementation of the state budget were correctly reviewed and summed up and the tasks for the Cabinet were clearly set forth for stepping up the building of a thriving nation and that the state budget was correctly shaped in the direction of giving play to the advantages of the socialist system. They voiced full support and approval for them.

Decision of the SPA of the DPRK “On approving the report of work of the DPRK Cabinet and the results of the implementation of the state budget for juche 100 (2011)” and ordinance of the SPA of the DPRK “On state budget for juche 101 (2012) of the DPRK” were adopted with the approval by all the deputies.

Organizational matter was discussed.

At the proposal of Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and first chairman of the NDC of the DPRK, Deputies Choe Ryong Hae, Kim Won Hong and Ri Myong Su were elected members of the NDC to fill vacancies.

Deputy Kim Yong Nam announced the members of the NDC elected at the first and fifth Sessions of the 12th SPA.

Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK NDC, Kim Jong Un, first chairman of the DPRK NDC NDC Vice-Chairmen–Deputies Kim Yong Chun, Ri Yong Mu, Jang Song Thaek and O Kuk Ryol.

NDC Members–Deputies Pak To Chun, Kim Jong Gak, Ju Kyu Chang, Chu Kyu-ch’ang, Paek Se Bong, Choe Ryong Hae, Kim Won Hong and Ri Myong Su.

Deputy Tae Hyong Chol was elected as secretary general of the SPA Presidium to fill a vacancy.

Deputies Ri Sung Ho and Ri Chol Man were named as vice-premiers of the Cabinet and Kim In Sik as vice-premier and chairman of the Capital Construction Commission.

Deputy Pak Thae Dok, chief secretary of the North Hwanghae Provincial Committee of the WPK, and Deputy Jon Kyong Nam, president of University of National Economics, were elected as members of the Legislation Committee of the SPA to fill vacancies.

This picture taken on April 13, 2012 and released by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14, 2012 shows the unveiling ceremony of the bronze statues of Kim Il-sung, the late founding leader of the Demoncratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and its late leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang, capital of DPRK. (Xinhua/KCNA)

Meanwhile, members of the DPRK central leadership congregated in front of the Museum of the Korean Revolution for a ceremony at which a statue of Kim Jong Il was unveiled.  KCNA reports:

The statues portray smiling Kim Il Sung who indicates the way ahead with his hand held forward and smiling Kim Jong Il blessing Songun Korea prosperous morrow while looking far into its bright future in the new century.

Large sculptures on both sides of the statues have been renovated on the highest level.

The unveiling ceremony took place with splendor Friday.

There were huge crowds of people from all walks of life, servicepersons, youth and students, 300 000 in all, on Mansu Hill and nearby streets. They were holding bouquets and balloons.

Supreme leader of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the people of the DPRK Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the WPK, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, was present at the opening ceremony.

Present there were senior party, state and army officials, chairpersons of friendly parties.

Also on hand were delegates to the celebrations of the centenary of the birth of the President, creators, officials and employees of the Mansudae Art Studio, officials of the party, armed forces and power bodies, social organizations, ministries and national institutions, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, anti-Japanese patriotic martyrs, servicepersons of the Korean People’s Army and the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces (KPISF), officials in the fields of science, education, literature and arts, public health and media, heroes, bereaved families of revolutionary martyrs, men of merits and working people in the city.

Also present there were a delegation of the Koreans in Japan and delegations of overseas compatriots and overseas Koreans, the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations here and foreign guests who are participating in the World Congress on the Juche Idea, the international festival and the April spring friendship art festival.

The statues were unveiled by senior party, state and army officials.

The moment thunderous cheers of “Hurrah!” resounded forth, fireworks were displayed and balloons were released.

Laid before the statues were large floral baskets in the joint name of the Central Committee of the WPK, the Central Military Commission of the WPK, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Cabinet and in the name of all the Korean people.

Laid were floral baskets in the name of ministries, national institutions, armed forces organs, provinces, cities, counties, important units which were visited by the President and Kim Jong Il, units of the KPA and the KPISF, party and power bodies and factories, enterprises, co-op farms, universities, colleges and schools in Pyongyang and local areas.

Floral baskets were also laid by the diplomatic corps and the military attaches corps here and foreign guests and overseas compatriots.

All the participants bowed to the statues.

Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee who is president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK, made a speech.

He said that Kim Jong Un instructed to build the statue of Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill together with that of Kim Il Sung and energetically led the work to build them on the highest level in the shortest time possible.

It was possible to erect the statues on the highest level in a matter of some 100 days thanks to the yearning and devotion made by all the soldiers and people, overseas Koreans and the world progressives.

This great auspicious event is a precious fruition of the noble moral obligation of Kim Jong Un and his energetic leadership. It is also a striking manifestation of the unshakable will of the army and people of the DPRK to hold Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in high esteem for all ages.

The unveiling ceremony ended and fireworks were displayed again.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un (C) attends the unveiling ceremony in Pyongyang, DPRK, April 13, 2012. Kim Jong Un attended the unveiling ceremony of bronze statues of founding leader Kim Il Sung and late leader Kim Jong Il Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Li) In attendance in this image (L-R) are: Jang Song Taek, VMar Kim Yong Chun, VMar Ri Yong Mu, VMar Kim Jong Gak, VMar Ri Yong Ho, VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Kim Jong Un, Choe Yong Rim, Kim Yong Nam, Kim Kyong Hui and Choe Tae Bok