Basic
Law of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region
PYONGYANG,
September 20 (KCNA) -- The Sinuiju Special Administrative Region has come into
being according to a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly
of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Presidium of the DPRK
Supreme People’s Assembly adopted the Basic Law of the Sinuiju Special
Administrative Region on September 12, 2002.
The
law consists of six chapters (government, economy, culture, fundamental rights
and duties of residents, structure and emblem and flag of the region) and a
total of 101 articles.
According
to the law, the region is a special administrative unit under the sovereignty of
the DPRK and the state puts the region under the central authority.
The
state endues the region with the legislative, executive and judicial power and
shall keep the legal system of the region unchanged for 50 years.
The
DPRK cabinet, state commissions, ministries and national institutions shall not
interfere in the region’s affairs, and external affairs concerning the region
shall be handled by the state.
The
region shall develop external activities on its own responsibility within the
limit approved by the state and can issue its own passports.
The
land and natural resources of the region belong to the DPRK and the state allows
the region to be turned into an international financial, trade, commercial,
industrial, up-to-date science, amusement and tourist center.
The
state shall give the region the rights to develop, use and manage the land and
encourage the businesses in the region to hire manpower of the DPRK.
The
period of leasing the land to the region shall last until December 31, 2052. The
state shall encourage investments in the region and provide an investment
environment and conditions for economic activities favorable for businesses.
The
DPRK shall encourage the region to properly pursue its cultural policies so as
to enhance its residents’ creativity and meet their demand for cultural and
emotional life, introduce up-to-date science and technology and actively develop
new domains of science and technology.
The
residents shall not be discriminated against irrespective of sex, country,
nationality, race, language, property status, knowledge, political views and
religious beliefs and foreigners without citizenship shall have the same rights
and duties as the residents.
The
procedures of moving and traveling to other areas of the DPRK and other
countries shall be established by the region.
The
legislative council is the legislature of the region and the legislative power
shall be exercised by the legislative council.
DPRK
citizens of the region can become deputies to the legislative council and
foreigners with the right to reside in the region can also hold the same post.
The
legislative council shall have a chairman and vice-chairmen elected by itself.
The
governor shall represent the special administrative region.
The
governorship can be taken by a resident of the region who has governing ability
and enjoys a high reputation among the inhabitants.
The
governor shall promulgate decisions of the legislative council and directives of
the administration, issue orders and appoint and dismiss members of the
administration and the chief of the prosecutors’ office of the region.
The
administration is the region’s executive body and general administrative
organ.
The
chief of the administration is the governor and the posts of department chiefs
of the administration and the chief of the police agency shall be held by
residents of the region.
The
prosecution affairs of the region shall be undertaken by the prosecutors’
office of the region and the district prosecutors’ offices.
The
prosecutors’ office of the region shall be accountable to the governor.
Trials
in the region shall be undertaken by the court of the region and district
courts. The court of the region is the supreme court.
The
region shall use not only the emblem and flag of the DPRK but also its own
emblem and flag and the order of their use shall be established by the region.
The
region shall apply no other laws but the DPRK laws concerning nationality,
emblem, flag, anthem, capital, territorial waters, territorial air space and
national security.
Copyright © 2002 The People's Korea. All rights reserved.