Kim Jong Un nominated as candidate for assembly seat

Kim Jong Un’s electoral district for N.K. legislature named as ‘Baekdu No. 111’

The electoral district for Kim Jong Un, first secretary of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, for a seat at the 13th Supreme People’s Assembly is “Baekdu Constituency No. 111,” North Korean media reported on Tuesday.

According to the daily Rodong Shinmun and the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un was appointed by the top military leaders as candidate for a seat at the rubber stamp legislator at the “convention for Baekdu Constituency No. 111” held at the North Korean Ministry of People’s Armed Forces building in Pyongyang on Monday. In attendance at the convention were Choe Ryong Hae, director of the Korean People`s Army General Political Bureau; Ri Yong Gil, Chief of the Korean People`s Army General Staff; and Jang Jong Nam, defense minister.

The South Korean government noted to the fact that Kim Jong Un’s electoral district is No. 111 that is emphasizing ‘1,’ and that it intentionally uses “Baekdu Constituency” unlike in the Kim Jong Un era.

A Seoul government source said, “The move is apparently taken to promote the legitimacy of Kim’s regime by stressing that Kim Jong Un is a descendant of the Baekdu family inheriting the hereditary legacy of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.” Analysts say that Kim Jong Un, who needs to advertise stabilization of his power since the surprise execution of his uncle and No. 2 man Jong Song Thaek in late last year, is emphasizing ‘Baekdu Heritage’ to force North Koreans to display unconditional loyalty to one and only leader. Another source in the Seoul government said, “Considering that the top military brass elevated Kim Jong Un for a seat on its legislature, Constituency No. 111 could be a North Korean military unit stationed near Mount Baekdu.”

When Kim Jong Il was appointed as candidate for Constituency No. 333 for the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly in 2009, there was no modifier designating a certain region to his electoral district. Kim Jong Il was named a candidate for a parliamentary seat beginning in 1982, and Kim Jong Un has been nominated for the first time.

North Korea forms a legislature comprised of legislators with a five-year term for the 13th Supreme People’s Assembly through general elections set on March 9. Key North Korean leaders double as members of the legislature. They have the right to enact laws and to elect Cabinet ministers, among other privileges.