North Korea's Kim Jong Un reappointed as president of state affairs

PYONGYANG: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been reappointed as the president of state affairs during the First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly held at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.

Kim attended the assembly session on March 22, 2026, according to images released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 23, 2026. The session of the Supreme People's Assembly — the country's highest legislative body — formally reinstated Kim in the top state position.

Kim's continued consolidation of power

The reappointment of Kim Jong Un as president of state affairs reaffirms his continued grip on power in the reclusive nation. The Supreme People's Assembly, which convenes periodically, serves as the formal legislative organ of North Korea, though its sessions are largely seen as ceremonial proceedings that rubber-stamp decisions already made by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea leadership.

Kim Jong Un has held the position of president of state affairs — a title that was revised from the previous designation of chairman of state affairs — as part of the country's constitutional framework. His reappointment at the opening session of the newly elected 15th Supreme People's Assembly signals continuity in the North Korean leadership structure.

The assembly session took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall, the traditional venue for major parliamentary gatherings in the North Korean capital. The KCNA, the sole official news agency of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, released photographs and details of the proceedings a day after the session was held, following its customary practice of delayed reporting on state events.

Kim Jong Un has been the supreme leader of North Korea since December 2011, following the death of his father Kim Jong Il. Over the years, he has consolidated his authority across all major positions of power in the country, including serving as the general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and the supreme commander of the armed forces.

The convening of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly follows elections for the body's new members, a process that in North Korea typically involves a single candidate per constituency and near-total voter turnout as reported by state media.