NK Leader Kim Jong Il Reelected to 4th Term

North Korea’s 12th Supreme People’s Assembly (parliament) in its first meeting yesterday reelected leader Kim Jong Il to his fourth term.

Around 11 a.m., the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said it would release significant news at noon, and announced Kim`s reelection.

Kim in April 1993 was initially named chairman of the National Defense Commission at the fifth meeting of the ninth assembly. He was reelected by the 10th assembly in September 1998 and by the 11th assembly in September 2003.

Revised in 1998, the North`s constitution said, "The National Defense Commission has the same term as the Supreme People’s Assembly. That means the assembly’s reelection of Kim Jong Il is only a perfunctory procedure."

"The National Defense Commission is the organization in charge of North Korea’s supreme military leadership and overall military policies."

The North`s constitution also says, "The commission chairman is the nation’s military commander and controls all military issues."

The commission has the authority to appoint or dismiss high-ranking military officers, declare belligerency, or issue a mobilization order.

kyle@donga.com