Eternal President of the Republic
| Eternal President of the Republic |
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 Emblem |
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| Appointer | Amendment in the North Korean Constitution |
| Inaugural holder | Kim Il-sung |
| Formation | September 5, 1998 (constitutional amendment) |
| Eternal President of the Republic | |
|---|---|
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 공화국의 영원한 주석 |
| Hancha | 共和國의 永遠한 主席 |
| McCune–Reischauer | Konghwagugŭi Yŏngwŏnhan Chusŏk |
| Revised Romanization | Gonghwagugui Yeongwonhan Juseok |
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| This article is part of the series: Politics and government of North Korea |
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The appellation Eternal President of the Republic (공화국의 영원한 주석, lit. "Eternal Chairman of the Republic") was established by a line in the preface to the North Korean constitution, as amended on September 5, 1998. It reads: "Under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Korean people will hold the great leader Comrade Kim Il-sung in high esteem as the eternal President of the Republic..."[1] According to Ashley J. Tellis and Michael Wills, this amendment to the preamble is an indication of the unique DPRK characteristic of being a theocratic state based on a cult of personality revering Kim Il-sung. In addition, North Korea adopted a Juche calendar dating from 1912, the year of Kim Il-sung's birth.[2]
As of 2013 there is no President of the DPRK, as the office was abolished in the 1998 constitution. Instead, its powers were divided between three offices: the head of government, Premier Pak Pong-ju (As of 2013); the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong-nam (As of 2013); and the head of the military, the Chairman of the National Defence Commission, Kim Jong-Un. The latter Kim is also the leader of the Workers' Party, and is reckoned as "Supreme Leader" and de facto head of state, with absolute control over the country.