This is part of a larger series examining some of North Korea’s key state institutions. The series has also covered the Central Military Commission, as well as the Politburo and the Central Committee.

The State Affairs Commission (국무위원회, SAC) was established in 2016 and is, according to the current DPRK constitution: “the supreme state organ of policy direction of state sovereignty” (국가주권의 최고 정책적기관). The organ replaced the National Defence Commission, which had existed since 1972.

Sometimes regarded as North Korea’s de facto government, at the time of its establishment this organ consisted of 12, including Kim Jong Un.[/p