Judiciary of North Korea

The Central Court is the highest court and has judges appointed by the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA). According to the constitution, the Central Court is accountable to the SPA, and the Criminal Code subjects judges to criminal liability for handing down “unjust judgments”.

In addition to the Central Court, there are provincial courts at the intermediate level, and “people’s courts” at the lowest level. Prosecutors are grouped under separate, parallel chains of command subordinate to the Central Procurator’s Office, which supervises local procurators’ offices at provincial and county levels. Judges are elected for three-year terms by the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA). There are also a number of provincial and people’s courts whose members are elected by local people’s assemblies.