NewsFlash Daily™
18 March
Near-Total Victory in Supreme People’s Assembly Polls Raises Questions as Rare Opposition Votes Draw Global Attention
Pyongyang: Kim Jong Un has secured an overwhelming victory in the 2026 elections of North Korea, winning 99.93% of the votes, according to official state media reports.
The elections, held on March 15, were conducted to elect members of the Supreme People's Assembly. The ruling Workers' Party of Korea and its allied parties reportedly secured 99.97% of the total votes, winning all available seats.
Out of all registered voters, 99.99% participated in the election, with only a minuscule percentage unable to vote due to being overseas or at sea.
0.07% Votes Against Candidates Raise Eyebrows
While the results indicate near-unanimous support, the 0.07% of votes cast against candidates has drawn global attention. This rare instance of dissent has triggered discussions on social media, with users humorously questioning, “Who are the candidates that received the 0.07% votes?”
Under North Korea’s electoral system, only one candidate is listed per constituency, leading external observers to describe the process as a “show election.” A total of 687 representatives were elected, representing workers, farmers, intellectuals, and officials.
Notably, this is reportedly the first time since 1957 that state media acknowledged any opposing votes in such elections.
Kim Yo Jong Also Elected
Among the elected representatives is Kim Yo Jong, sister of Kim Jong Un, who won from Constituency No. 5.
Social Media Reacts with Sarcasm
The tiny fraction of dissent votes has gone viral online, with users posting sarcastic remarks like “a moment of silence for the 0.07%” and jokingly asking to see their photos alongside Kim’s.
