State Affairs Commission of North Korea

The National Defence Commission was created in 1972 as per the 1972 Constitution, originally the commission's mandate was to supervise national defense matters within North Korea.[3]

Per the 4th plenary session of the Supreme People's Assembly in June 2016 the National Defence Commission was officially replaced by the State Affairs Commission, with an expanded focus towards other national concerns aside from defense and security.

Article 106 of the Constitution of North Korea defines the State Affairs Commission as the supreme state organ of policy direction of state sovereignty.[1] Article 109 of the Constitution states that the SAC's powers are to:[4] [5]

• deliberate and decide on major policies of the State including defence and security policies;
• exercise supervision over the fulfillment of the orders of the President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the decisions and directives of the Commission, and take measures for their fulfillment;
• abrogate decisions and directives of State organs which run counter to the orders of the President of the SAC-DPRK and the decisions and directives of the Commission in its meetings.

In practice, SAC supervises the Cabinet of North Korea. It also directly supervises the three ministries that are not under the Cabinet, namely the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Social Security as well as the Korean People's Army, mainly the General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army and General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army. The Supreme Guard Command which is responsible for the top leadership and government protection is also under its command. One additional entity, the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission(국가체육지도위원회), is also under the SAC as its Chairman is appointed by the Commission.[6][7]

The following are the current members of the State Affairs Commission as of 29 September 2021:[8][9][10]

President of the State Affairs Commission
President		Political party		Member since	Other positions
	Kim Jong Un 김정은 (born 1984)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 June 2016	General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of North Korea
First Vice President of the State Affairs Commission
First Vice President		Political party		Member since	Other positions
	Choe Ryong-hae 최룡해 (born 1950)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 June 2016	Member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly
Vice President of the State Affairs Commission
Vice President		Political party		Member since	Other positions
	Kim Tok-hun 김덕훈 (born 1961)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 September 2021	Member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea Premier of the Cabinet
Members of the State Affairs Commission
Member		Political party		Member since	Other positions
	Kim Yong-chol 김영철 (born 1945)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 June 2016	Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Director of the Unified Front Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
	Jong Kyong-thaek 정경택		Workers' Party of Korea	11 April 2018	Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Member of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea Minister of State Security Colonel General of the Korean People's Army
	Ri Son-gwon 리선권		Workers' Party of Korea	12 April 2020	Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Minister of Foreign Affairs
	Jo Yong-won 조용원 (born 1957)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 September 2021	Member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Member of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea Colonel General of the Korean People's Army
	Pak Jong-chon 박정천		Workers' Party of Korea	29 September 2021	Member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
	O Su-yong 오수용 (born 1944)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 September 2021	Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Director of the Economic Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
	Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1955)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 September 2021	Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea Minister of National Defence General of the Korean People's Army
	Jang Jong-nam 장정남		Workers' Party of Korea	29 September 2021	Alternate Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Minister of Public Security Lieutenant General
	Kim Song-nam 김성남 (born 1953)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 September 2021	Alternate Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Director of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
	Kim Yo-jong 김여정 (born 1987)		Workers' Party of Korea	29 September 2021	Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea