North Korea's 'Elections'; 100% of People Expected to Choose the Only Available Option

The people of North Korea are heading to the polls to participate in the 'Elections of the Supreme People's Assembly.' It is expected that the turnout will be announced as 100%, with all voters casting their votes for the only available option. The voting for the 'Supreme People's Assembly' will take place on March 10. This is the second time these 'elections' are being held during the leadership of Kim Jong-un, the current leader. The 'Supreme People's Assembly' has no real power and merely approves decisions that are communicated to it. The previous 'elections' for this assembly took place in 2013. Voting occurs every five years. This 'election' is being held just days after the latest round of negotiations between Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump failed, and North Korea's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, has described the timing as 'very significant.' According to this newspaper, 'The elections at this time strongly demonstrate that our people, despite all ups and downs, deeply and unequivocally trust the leadership.' There is only one name on the ballots. Potential voters can cross out this name, effectively casting a dissenting vote, but no such cases have been reported so far. The previous elections in 2013 saw a turnout of '99.97%' of eligible voters, and two days after the elections, it was announced that '100%' of the people voted in favor of the candidates listed on the ballots. The voting age in North Korea is 17. Candidates may include farmers, workers, soldiers, and other individuals from the ruling 'Workers' Party' and some of its branches. The Supreme People's Assembly is a unicameral body with 687 members. It has a presidium, which has been led for years by Kim Yong-nam. Kim Yong-nam met with the then-President of Iran and the leader of the Islamic Republic in 2012. He also attended Hassan Rouhani's inauguration in 2016. North Korean state media have emphasized the importance of this 'election' and addressing the country's economic situation. According to reports, North Korea's economic situation is facing a growing crisis. The country is grappling with famine and drought, outdated and inefficient agriculture, and extensive international sanctions due to military and nuclear tests. The United Nations recently reported that the number of citizens needing food and humanitarian assistance has risen by 600,000 to about 11 million people. This figure represents 43% of the total population. The UN stated that despite the increase in the number of people in need of food and assistance, it must reduce the number of citizens it can support due to budget shortages and must prioritize those with the greatest needs.