Formed 1972 | Dissolved 2016 | |
 | ||
Superseding agency State Affairs Commission Jurisdiction Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Commission executives Kim Jong-un, First Chairman
Hwang Pyong-so, Vice Chairman
Ri Yong-mu, Vice Chairman
O Kuk-ryol, Vice Chairman | ||
The National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (NDC) was defined by the 1998 constitution as "the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters". The Chairman of the National Defence Commission controls the armed forces and, in this state where the military dominated, was the most powerful position in the country and was held by Kim Jong-il up until his death. Per the 2016 Constitution, the commission was replaced by the State Affairs Commission.
Contents
History
The National Defence Commission was created in 1972, with a group of commissions subordinate to the Central People's Committee, as part of the 1972 DPRK Constitution. The first National Defence Commission consisted of four members (Kim Il-sung; Choe Hyon; O Jin-u; and O Paek Ryong). The NDC was chartered in Chapter VII, Article 105:
The Central People's Committee establishes a Domestic Policy Commission, a Foreign Policy Commission, a National Defence Commission, a Justice and Security Commission and other respective commissions to assist in its work.
The National Defence Commission, though nominally under the Supreme People's Assembly, was confirmed as the highest state body, with ultimate executive power (including responsibility for the armed forces) resting with its chairman, in 1998 through a constitutional amendment.
The Fifth Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly, held on 13 April 2012, proclaimed Kim Jong-il as the "Eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission". The Constitution was revised to replace it with the First Chairman post, with the late leader's son and successor Kim Jong-un appointed to the new position.
Kim Jong-un has taken over as the First Chairman of the Commission, this organization seems to have faded somewhat into the background. It is a mouthpiece on certain issues, especially focused on inter-Korean relations, and is the source for announcements regarding tests of critical defense systems. Also, as of early 2014, there had been no reported meetings of the NDC.
Per the 4th plenary session of the Supreme People's Assembly in June 2016 the commission was officially disbanded with the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK created in its place.
Powers and responsibilities
Article 106 of the Constitution of North Korea states that the National Defence Commission is "the supreme national defence guidance organ of state sovereignty". Article 109 of the Constitution states that the NDC’s powers are to:
As a defense issues guider and coordinator, the security organizations in North Korea are subordinate to the Commission and among them are the Korean People's Army, the Ministry of People's Armed Forces and the State Security Department and the Ministry of People's Security.
Structure
Among the departments that are known in the NDC were:
Security agencies and organizations that subordinated to the Commission:
Composition of the DPRK NDC as of 8 September 2015
These were the members of the DPRK NDC after Pak Yong-sik was appointed Minister of the People's Armed Forces on July 11 after Hyon Yong-chol was executed on May 12 of 2015 ending a 2-month-long vacancy in the post.