Comparison of New Constitution with Old Constitution

New Constitution (In force after Sep. 5, 1998)
Old Constitution (In force before Sep. 5, 1998)

A newly revised Constitution has been in effect in the DPRK since the 10th Supreme People’s Assembly endorsed it with unanimous approval on Sep. 5.

The new Constitution which consists of seven chapters with 166 articles, basically inherits its general concept and ideal from the old Constitution but made alterations in some parts to meet the demand of the time.

The most typical feature of the new Constitution is the elimination of State Presidency, and alterations in the duties, authority and functions or abolishment of state organs. They are described in its newly added preamble and in largely revised Chapter 6, which deletes some president-related state organs provided for in the old Constitution. No major alterations have been made in other chapters.

The new Constitution declares in its preamble that the DPRK makes Kim Il Sung as the eternal President with great respect for his deeds and dedication to the country and the world, and notes in article 111 (Chapter 6) that the President of the Supreme People’s Assembly Presidium “represents the State.”

The President’s authority and duties concerning diplomatic affairs have been transferred to the SPA Presidium and its President. They include promulgation, ratification and renunciation of a treaty with a foreign country, appointing and recalling diplomatic representatives abroad, and accepting credentials and issuing summons to foreign envoys.

The Central People’s Committee, the country’s highest leading body of State power, which the late President Kim Il Sung had headed and guided in order for it to formulate and implement State policies, disappears from Chapter 6.

The Administration Council which had functioned as a Cabinet, is also deleted to be replaced by the newly instituted Cabinet.

No change has been made at all in Chapter 1 (Politics), 3 (Culture), 4 (National Defense), and 7 (National Emblem, Flag, National Anthem and Capital), while some minor changes have been made in Chapter 2 (Economy) and 5 (Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens).

Meanwhile, the total number of articles was reduced from 171 to 166.

	New Constitution	Old Constitution
Preface	Preamble is newly introduced into the new constitution. The Preamble defines Kim Il Sung as the eternal President of the DPRK.	There was no Preamble.
Chapter I:	Subtitle: Politics (Articles 1 - 18) The content is exactly the same as that of the old constitution	Subtitle: Politics (Articles 1 - 18)
Chapter II:	Subtitle: Economy (Articles 19 - 38) There are some minor changes in articles 33 and 37. One sentence concerning economic management is added to article 33. “within a special economic zone” is added to the end of article 35.	Subtitle:Economy (Articles 19 - 38)
Chapter III:	Subtitle: Culture (Articles 39 - 57) The content is exactly the same as that of the old constitution	Subtitle: Culture (Articles 39 - 57)
Chapter IV:	Subtitle: National Defense (Articles 58 - 61) The content is exactly the same as that of the old constitution	Subtitle: National Defense (Articles 58 - 61)
Chapter V: Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens	Title: Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens (Articles 62 - 86) There are some changes made in articles 75 and 86. Regulations concerning the citizens’ freedom of residence and travel is newly introduced in article 75. A sentence concerning punishment of those who commit treason against the country is deleted.	Title: Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens (Articles 62 - 86)
Chapter VI:	Title: The Structure of the State (Articles 87 - 162) This chapter seven paragraphs in it. They are 1. the Supreme People’s Assembly, 2. the National Defense Commission, 3. the SPA Presidium, 4. Cabinet, 5. Local People’s Assembly, 6. Local People’s Committee, and 7. Court and Public Procurators’ Office. Paragraphs 2, 4, 5 in the old constitution were deleted, and paragraph 4 is newly introduced.	Title: State Organ (Articles 87 - 167) 　 There are eight paragraphs in it. They are 1. the Supreme People’s Assembly, 2. the President of the DPRK, 3. the National Defense Commission, 4. the Central People’s Committee, 5. the Administration Council, 6. the Local People’s Assembly and the People’s Committee, 7.the Local Administrative and Economic Committee, and 8. Court and Public Procurators’ Office.
Chapter VII:	Title: National Emblem, Flag, National Anthem and Capital (Articles 163 - 166) The content is exactly the same as that of the old constitution.	Title: National Emblem, Flag, National Anthem and Capital (Articles 168 - 171)

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