North Korea is ruled by the Party and the Party’s top institution is the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Central Committee (조선로동당 중앙위원회 정치국 상무위원회, also sometimes translated as “Presidium”).

In addition to Kim Jong Un, of course, the Committee has three members. This piece is dedicated to this institution, and the three other men who hold the top spots.

The institution

The Politburo Standing Committee came into existence relatively late in North Korean history. It was formed in 1980 at the Sixth Congress of the Party – the same event which saw Kim Jong Il appearing urbi et