Budget Up, Judiciary Renamed, South Korea and U.S. in the Dark.

North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly Convenes

North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) convened for a two-day session this week. While the assembly reported on its achievements during 2024, state media remained silent on anticipated changes to the constitution that could further solidify the country's hostile stance towards South Korea.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not mention whether leader Kim Jong Un attended the sessions. Additionally, no reports were released regarding decisions on foreign policy, including plans for interactions with the new U.S. administration.

The assembly witnessed the swearing-in of the country's new premier and the adoption of the state budget for 2025. This budget will increase government spending to 103.8% of last year's level, with a portion dedicated to accelerating "significant change in the national defense capabilities." However, KCNA did not provide specific details on defense spending plans.

The assembly also approved a constitutional amendment to rename its supreme court and the top prosecutors' office. Notably, last year's SPA session amended the constitution to designate South Korea as "a hostile state." Officials and experts in the South anticipated further changes that could be followed by aggressive military actions.

In a separate KCNA dispatch, North Korea reported on the arrest and impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The report described Yoon as "babbling nonsense to try to justify his madcap actions" to declare martial law.