List of political parties in North Korea
North Korea portal |
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is formally a one-party state under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) as the sole governing party. There are also two other minor parties served in the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea similar to the popular fronts of other socialist states.
As of the latest election in 2019, three parties (WPK, Korean Social Democratic Party, and Chondoist Chongu Party) and one organization (Chongryon) are represented in the Supreme People's Assembly, the country's unicameral parliament.
Current parties
Party | SPA seats (2014) | Popular front | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Workers' Party of Korea (Workers' Party) 조선로동당 Chosŏn Rodongdang |
607 / 687
|
DFRF | Ruling party | ||
Korean Social Democratic Party (KSDP) 조선사회민주당 Chosŏn Sahoe Minjudang |
50 / 687
|
Minor party, subordinate to the WPK | |||
Chondoist Chongu Party (Chondoist Chongu Party) 천도교청우당 Ch'ŏndogyo Ch'ŏngudang |
22 / 687
|
Minor party, subordinate to the WPK | |||
Chongryon (CYJ) 재일본 조선인 총련합회 Chaeilbon Chosŏnin Ch'ongryŏnhaphoe |
5 / 687
|
Not a party but a North Korean-aligned organization for Zainichi Koreans in Japan. Despite this, it still appoints members of the SPA. |
Former parties
Party | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|
Korea Buddhist Federation (KBF) 조선불교도련맹 Chosŏn-bulgyodo-ryŏnmaeng |
Pseudo-party, last time won a seat with certainty in 1972 | ||
Democratic Independent Party (Democratic Independent Party) 민주독립당 Minju Tongnipdang |
Participated in elections between 1948 and 1967, last time won a seat with certainty in 1962 | ||
Dongro People's Party (DPP) 동로인민당(動勞人民黨) Dongro Inmindang |
Participated in elections between 1948 and 1967, last time won a seat with certainty in 1962 | ||
Gonmin People's Alliance (GMH) (Sometimes translated as Union of People's Masses (UPM, 건민인민연합)) 건민회 Gonminhoe |
Participated in elections between 1957 and 1967, originally South Korea-based party, last time won a seat with certainty in 1957 and in 1962 | ||
People's Republic Party (IRP) 인민공화당 Inmin Konghwadang |
South Korea-based party, participated in elections between 1948 and 1967, last time won a seat with certainty in 1957 | ||
Laboring People's Party (Laboring People's Party) 근로인민당 Kŭllo Inmindang |
South Korea-based party, last time won a seat with certainty in 1962 |
Dissolved parties
Party | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|
Workers' Party of North Korea (Workers' Party) 북조선로동당 Pukchosŏn Rodongdang |
Merged with the Workers' Party of South Korea in 1949 to form the Workers' Party of Korea. | ||
New People's Party of Korea 조선신민당 Chosŏn Sinmindang |
Merged with the Communist Party of Korea in 1946 to form the Workers' Party of South Korea. | ||
Communist Party of Korea 조선공산당 Chosŏn Kongsandang |
Merged with the New People's Party of Korea in 1946 to form the Workers' Party of South Korea. |
North Korean opposition parties
There is currently no known organized opposition within North Korea that is independently verifiable. However, there are various exiled dissident groups that oppose the regime. In 2024, it was revealed that there are opposition parties within North Korea.
- Free Joseon
- North Korea Freedom Coalition
- Fighters for a Free North Korea
- North Korean People's Liberation Front