Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea 조선로동당중앙위원회정치국상무위원회 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leadership | |
Status | Highest body of theCentral Committee between sessions, Workers' Party of Korea |
Members | |
Elected by | |
Responsible to | |
| Seats | 5 |
| Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선로동당 중앙위원회 정치국 상무위원회 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 朝鮮勞動黨 中央委員會 政治局 常務委員會 |
| Revised Romanization | Joseon Rodongdang Jungang Wiwonhoe Jeongchiguk Sangmu Wiwonhoe |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn Rodongdang Chungang Wiwŏnhoe Chŏngch'iguk Sangmu Wiwŏnhoe |
ThePresidium of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea, or simply thePresidium, and formerly known as theStanding Committee (1946–61), is a committee consisting of the top leadership of theWorkers' Party of Korea. Historically, it has been composed of one to five members, and currently has five members.[1] Its officially mandated purpose is to conduct policy discussions and make decisions on major issues when thePolitburo, a larger decision-making body, is not in session. While the Presidium in theory reports to the Politburo, which in turn reports to the largerCentral Committee, in practice the Presidium is supreme over its parent bodies and acts as the most powerful decision-making body inNorth Korea.[1] As North Korea is aone-party state, the Presidium's decisionsde facto have the force of law.[2] Its role is roughly analogous to that of thePolitburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
The Presidium was revitalized at the 3rd Conference, with four new members appointed:Kim Yong-nam (President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, head of state),Choe Yong-rim (Premier, head of government),Vice MarshalJo Myong-rok (Director of theGeneral Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army) and Vice MarshalRi Yong-ho (Chief of the General Staff).[3] The appointment of two military officers was considered by outside observers to be in line with Kim Jong Il'smilitary-first politics.[3] It was believed that Ri Yong-ho wasKim Jong Un's personal military escort at the time, similar to O Jin-u's role during Kim Jong Il's early rule.[3] At the 4th Conference,ChasuChoe Ryong-hae was appointed to the Standing Committee.[4]
| Member | Member since | Other positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Kim Jong Un 김정은 (born 1984) | 11 April 2012 | |
.jpg) | Choe Ryong-hae 최룡해 (born 1950) | 11 April 2012 |
|
| Ri Pyong-chol 리병철 (born 1948) | 13 August 2020 |
| |
| Kim Tok-hun 김덕훈 (born 1962) | 13 August 2020 |
| |
| Jo Yong-won 조용원 | 10 January 2021[5] |
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