Kim Jong Un has once again secured an overwhelming victory in the 2026 parliamentary elections in North Korea. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the ruling Workers' Party of Korea received 99.93% of the total votes.
The elections were held on March 15 to select members of the country’s parliament, known as the Supreme People's Assembly. The reported voter turnout was extremely high at 99.99%, showing near-total participation by citizens.
While the results show strong support for the ruling party, a very small percentage—0.07%—voted against its candidates. This minor difference has drawn attention, as it is rare in North Korea’s tightly controlled political system.
The political system in North Korea is very different from democratic countries. The Supreme People’s Assembly is the highest legislative body, and it has 687 members. These members are elected from different regions across the country.
However, unlike open elections in many nations, candidates in North Korea are selected in advance by the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. For each seat, there is usually only one candidate, and voters are given a simple choice—to vote “yes” or “no.”
This means that there is no competition between multiple candidates. The role of the election is mainly to approve the choices already made by the ruling party. Because of this system, results with extremely high support percentages are common.
Voting is conducted under the supervision of state authorities. Analysts say that social pressure and strict control make it very rare for people to vote against the official candidate. In most past elections, almost all votes have been in favour of the ruling party.
In the 2026 elections, all 687 seats in the Supreme People’s Assembly were won by candidates backed by the Workers’ Party of Korea. This means the ruling party continues to have full control over the country’s law-making body.
Even though the assembly is responsible for passing laws, experts believe that real decision-making power lies with the leadership of the Workers’ Party and Kim Jong Un himself. The assembly usually approves policies that have already been decided.
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One of the most discussed aspects of the 2026 elections is the small percentage of votes that went against the ruling party. While 99.93% support is still extremely high, the fact that 0.07% of voters chose “no” has been seen as unusual.
In addition, a very small number of voters—around 0.0037%—were unable to vote, reportedly because they were abroad or working overseas. Another tiny fraction, about 0.00003%, abstained from voting.
Although these numbers are very small, they have been highlighted because North Korean elections usually report almost complete agreement. Analysts believe that even this small variation may carry symbolic meaning.
Some experts suggest that the results are being presented in a way to show both unity and participation. By acknowledging a small number of opposing votes, the system may appear more realistic, even though overall control remains unchanged.
Another key point is the political message behind the elections. Analysts believe that the leadership uses elections to demonstrate national unity and strengthen its authority. High turnout and strong support figures are often used to show that the government has the backing of the people.
Kim Jong Un has been in power since 2011, after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. Since then, he has continued to maintain tight control over the country’s political system.
The 2026 elections are also being seen in the context of global attention on North Korea. With ongoing international tensions and economic challenges, the leadership may be using the election results to send a message of internal stability.
The 2026 parliamentary elections in North Korea have once again resulted in a near-total victory for Kim Jong Un and the Workers’ Party of Korea. With 99.93% of votes and full control of all seats in the Supreme People’s Assembly, the ruling leadership has reinforced its dominance.
While the small percentage of votes against the party has drawn some attention, it does not change the overall outcome. The political system remains firmly controlled, with limited scope for opposition or competition.
These elections highlight how North Korea’s political structure functions differently from democratic systems. Instead of competition, the focus is on unity and approval of pre-selected candidates.
As Kim Jong Un continues his leadership, such election results are likely to remain a key tool for maintaining authority and projecting stability both within the country and to the outside world.
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