• Source:JND
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Kim Jong Un, North Korea's supreme leader, has once again secured a near-total win in the parliamentary elections. His ruling Workers' Party of Korea and allied groups won 99.93 per cent of the country's eligible vote.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state media portal, the ruling party won each of the seats in the 15th Supreme People's Assembly.

The voter turnout in the elections was 99.99 per cent. The results in the country, being under a strict one-man rule, were obvious, but what garnered attention was the vote share and who the remaining 0.07 per cent of people voted.

Yonhap News Agency reported, citing KCNA, that 0.07 per cent of the electorate voted against the candidates but did not favour another.

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According to the country's constitution, each constituency in the latest parliamentary election was given just one candidate, that too pre-approved. There was no opposition candidate on the ballot. The voters had to either accept or reject.

The 0.07 per cent of voters did not vote for another candidate but dissented from the pre-approved candidate. This is the first time since 1957 that North Korea has openly acknowledged dissenting votes, prompting curiosity worldwide.

A total of 687 representatives, including workers, farmers, military personnel, state officials, intellectuals, and officials, were elected to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly, according to the country's constitution.

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Kim enjoys 'monolithic' power over North Korea as in 2019, the country strengthened his authority over government, military and institutions as the head of state.

Kim's family has been ruling the country since it was formed in 1948. He is the third-generation ruler who assumed power in 2011 after his father, Kim Jong-il, died.


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