North Korea elections 2014: People vote for rubber-stamp parliament

North Korea is voting in a five-yearly election to approve members of the rubber-stamp parliament, the Supreme People’s Assembly.

Each of the 687 districts has only one candidate running for office, with electors required to write only “yes” or “no” on the ballot paper.

Campaign posters across the capital, Pyongyang, have urged a “yes” vote.

Observers say the candidate list is an opportunity to see who is in or out of favor with the leadership.

In the last election in 2009, turnout was 99%, with 100% of votes in favor of the given candidates.

The election is the first to be held under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, who came to power in December 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong-un is reportedly registered as a candidate in Mount Paekdu, venerated in party propaganda as the birthplace of Kim Jong-il.

The vote is being held in a holiday atmosphere in the capital, Pyongyang, with performances taking place in the street.

“Through this election we will fully display the might of the single-hearted unity of our army and people,” said Hyon Byong-chol, chairman of a preparatory committee for one of the sub-districts in the election.

He told the Associated Press news agency that North Koreans were “firmly united” behind their leader.

Pyongyang resident Ri Song-gun told AP he had cast his vote of approval for his district’s candidate.

“I will devote all my intelligence and strength to fortify our socialist system centred on the masses, which was built and developed by our great generalissimos,” he said.

The vote comes three months after the brutal and sudden execution of Kim Jong-un’s once-powerful uncle, Chang Song-thaek.

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