• 挂路灯人@lemmy.ml
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    5 hours ago

    As I understand it after the dissolution of the position of President, Kim Jong il and Kim Jong Un have held positions that are while important certainly not central such as General Secretary of the WPK. The Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly is the central state power and it’s members are elected by the Supreme People’s Assembly who are in turn elected through direct nationwide blind ballot.

      • 挂路灯人@lemmy.ml
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        4 hours ago

        The comparison I’m about to make isn’t 100% accurate but it’s close enough to make the point I hope. The British royal family theoretically due to their position swears in the pm and leads the country etc etc, whereas in reality it’s the parliament that is the actual central political power. The Kim family is habitually elected high positions like general secretary due to the legacy they hold but in reality most of their time is spent on more ceremonial work like inspecting new developments etc while the Supreme People’s Assembly is the actual central state power. Another similar analogy is the president of Ireland as I understand it signs the laws and swears in politicians but is generally a ceremonial role this analogy is probably more accurate as like the Kim’s it is an elected position however the general point remains.

          • 挂路灯人@lemmy.ml
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            4 hours ago

            Yeah that’s why I didn’t want to make that particular analogy because it appears to have whizzed over your head even when I included the end bit to try solidify the actual point at hand. The point is the roles they are elected to (which they are in stark contrast to a monarchy of any kind) are high ranking but not central to political power or work. Largely ceremonial and advisory.

            • EmmiLime@lemmy.ml
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              4 hours ago

              because it appears to have whizzed over your head even when I included the end bit to try solidify the actual point at hand.

              That user is intentionally doing it, the chain of questions was to eventually hyperfocus on any perceived flaw and ignore any or all points made before.

              • 挂路灯人@lemmy.ml
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                4 hours ago

                I’m not sure the president of Ireland is a good analogy since they don’t sit for life.

                Theoretically the Kim’s don’t either hence the elections, they’re just that popular and whether you like it or not that’s how democracy works the person the most people like wins.

                All the sources I can find say that the General Secretary of WPK is a de facto power position, not a ceremonial one

                Given the republicans are in power in America right now would you say Joe Gruters is central to state power? (Obviously not). Also I never said they don’t hold power just that they weren’t central and spent the majority of their time on LARGELY ceremonial and advisory tasks.