Anniversary of the Constitution (North Korea)
The Anniversary of the Constitution in North Korea is observed annually on December 27, commemorating the adoption of the country's constitution in 1972. This date marks a significant moment in North Korean history, as the new constitution replaced the earlier 1948 version, further entrenching the leadership of Kim Il Sung. The constitution established the Central People's Committee, consolidating governmental power and reinforcing the state's communist ideology. North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is characterized by its strict control over various aspects of life, including political expression and public observances. The celebrations for this anniversary typically involve mandatory events such as military parades and mass rallies, emphasizing loyalty to the state and its leaders. These observances reflect the nation's commitment to upholding its founding principles under a totalitarian regime, contrasting sharply with the democratic and capitalist developments seen in South Korea. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the historical and ideological divisions that persist on the Korean Peninsula.
Anniversary of the Constitution (North Korea)
Anniversary of the Constitution (North Korea)
The closed Asian nation of North Korea honors Anniversary of the Constitution Day on December 27 of every year.
North Korea sits on the northern half of the divided Korean Peninsula on Asia's northeast coast, while South Korea lies on the lower half. Korea was occupied by Japanese forces until after World War II, when the region was split into procommunist North Korea and pro-Western South Korea. Known officially as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea has a population of over 20 million people, approximately 2.5 million of whom live in the capital and largest city of Pyongyang. The nation was ruled by Kim Il Sung, head of the totalitarian North Korean Communist Party, until he died on July 8, 1994. Afterward, leadership fell to his son, Kim Jong Il.
While South Korea developed a thriving and prosperous capitalist society over the decades, the North maintained strict communist controls over virtually every facet of life and built up a massive cult of personality, which required people to revere Kim Il Sung and then his son. On December 27, 1972, the Fifth Supreme People's Assembly, the nation's submissive legislature, approved a new constitution which replaced the old constitution of 1948. It helped to further consolidate Kim Il Sung's power by creating a supreme administrative body known as the Central People's Committee, and it was confirmed with some revisions by the Sixth Supreme People's Assembly in 1992. Observances to honor Anniversary of the Constitution Day have typically been mandatory, consisting of military parades and highly choreographed rallies of civilians drilled to express loyalty to their nation and its leader.