Analysis Primaries in Pyongyang? Decoding North Korea’s electoral reformsNew law does little to make elections free, but allowing two candidates marks small step toward greater citizen input North Korea has finally revealed details about changes to its national election law, months after a party meeting first suggested changes to the way local and national elections are held. The Minju Choson newspaper released a multi-part explanation on the revised election law last week, offering the first glimpse at the reforms approved on Aug. 30. It reveals that certain districts now require a primary-like competition between exactly two people, rather than a single party-cleared individual. The two people are at least on paper supposed to reflect diversity in geographic representation, profession and even gender. [/p © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. |