N.Koreans go to the Polls, and the Results are Almost Certain

Asia News Network

09 March 2014

Singapore (The Straits Times/ANN) – It is the highest and most sacred peak in the Korean peninsula, where North Korea’s first leader Kim Il-sung led a resistance movement against the Japanese, and where his son and successor Kim Jong-il was supposedly born.

On Sunday, grandson Kim Jong Un will also lay claim on Mount Paektu – as his constituency – in his first election since inheriting the Hermit Kingdom after his father’s death in 2011.

But, instead of taking over his father’s constituency number 333, the third-generation leader has chosen to stand for Mount Paektu, which is numbered 111, for symbolic reasons, say analysts. The seat has been held by a vice minister of construction since the last elections in 2009.

Associate research fellow Sarah Teo from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, who specialises in Korea peninsula affairs, told The Straits Times: “It is something to be revered, it signifies the sovereignty and authority of his leadership, and it will further elevate his status and consolidate his leadership over North Korea.”

It is almost a guaranteed win, as Kim’s name will be the only one on the ballot – as with all the other 686 constituencies in the communist state.

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