North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a socialist single-party state dominated by the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and the Kim family. Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un holds absolute power as head of state and commands all branches of government, the military, and the party. While the country has institutions like the Supreme People’s Assembly and the Central People’s Committee, they function largely to endorse decisions made by the WPK, with limited independent authority.

The judicial system lacks independence and is subject to party control, while political opposition and independent media are not permitted. The WPK monopolizes political power, using state-controlled media to spread propaganda and reinforce loyalty to the regime. North Korea is widely criticized for its poor human rights record, suppression of political freedoms, and restricted access to information, with much of its internal workings concealed from international scrutiny.