The image broadcast by North Korea’s Korean Central Television (KCTV) on November 22, 2023 shows voters standing in front of voters ahead of local elections scheduled for November 26. (Use only within South Korea. Distribution prohibited in part or in full)
SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Yonhap) — North Korea has urged residents to cast their votes and “fulfill their duties as members of the republic” as the isolated regime prepares to celebrate its annual celebrations this Sunday. The first local elections with more than one candidate.
Local elections are to be held in Pyongyang to elect new representatives to local assemblies in provinces, cities and counties across the country. Apparently with the intention of introducing competition into the electoral system, some constituencies fielded two candidates.
In accordance with the amended election law, North Korea held a primary election to determine the final candidate for local parliament representatives after verifying the qualifications of two candidates. The final candidate could then meet with voters for election campaigns.
The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s largest newspaper, said members of the “most worthy” North Korean republic must fulfill their duties. He added that people can remember “the love and consideration” they received from the party and the state during the elections.
The newspaper said the elections were an “important political opportunity” to elect representatives who were “firmly recognized” as people who strived to find and do even “one thing” for the state and the people sensible and good.
In another article, the newspaper criticized the American electoral system, which is promoted as a fair election based on freedom and equality, but in reality is a “sophistry” designed to cover up the true character of “a lazy and sick capitalist society.”
The newspaper also explained that participation in elections in the United States is subject to numerous requirements, such as race, wealth and intelligence level, adding that election results in capitalist societies depend largely on voter bribery.
Local elections are held every four years and the number of seats depends on the population of each area. But elections are widely seen as a mere formality as candidates are handpicked by the ruling party and automatically approved for office.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said the latest change in the North’s electoral system does not mean the introduction of free elections in the reclusive regime and is rather seen as an attempt to control public opinion amid ongoing economic difficulties.
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