On the 15th of this month, North Korea conducted deputy elections for the Supreme People’s Assembly, which serves as its parliament, marking the first such elections since March 2019. Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, was reported to have cast his vote. The elections come on the heels of significant personnel changes within the party following its congress in February, suggesting a generational shift in leadership.

Reported by the Korean Central News Agency, the voter turnout for this election reached an extraordinary 99.99%. This high percentage may be seen as a reflection of the North Korean government’s insistence on maintaining public support for the regime. It is anticipated that a new session of the Supreme People’s Assembly will convene in April, where policies decided during the party congress are expected to be incorporated into the nation's legal frameworks.

In a speech after voting at a coal mine in Pyongan-namdo, Kim emphasized the importance of coal as a driving force for the self-reliant economic development of North Korea. He also confirmed the Workers' Party's new five-year goal for the coal industry, aiming to increase production by 1.2 times. These developments indicate a focus on self-sufficiency and economic resilience, especially in light of ongoing international sanctions and economic challenges.