Article 153:

Investigation and prosecution are conducted by the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office, the Public Prosecutors Offices of a province (or municipality directly under central authority), city (or district) or county and the Special Public Prosecutors Office.

Article 154:

The term of office of the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

Article 155:

Public prosecutors are appointed or removed by the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office.

Article 156:

The functions of the Public Prosecutors Office are to:

  1. ensure the strict observance of State laws by institutions, enterprises, organizations and citizens;
  2. ensure that the decisions and directives of State bodies conform with the Constitution, the laws, ordinances and decisions of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the orders of the Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the decisions and directives of the National Defence Commission, the decrees, decisions and directives of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and the decisions and directives of the Cabinet;
  3. identify and institute legal proceedings against criminals and offenders in order to protect the State power of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the socialist system, the property of the State and social, cooperative organizations, personal rights as guaranteed by the Constitution and the people’s lives and property.

Article 157:

Investigation and prosecution are conducted under the unified direction of the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office, and all Public Prosecutors Offices are subordinate to their higher offices and the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office.

Article 158:

The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office is accountable to the Supreme People’s Assembly and to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly when the Supreme People’s Assembly is not in session.

Article 159:

Justice is administered by the Supreme Court, the Court of a province (or municipality directly under central authority), the City (or District) or County People’s Courts, and the Special Court.
Verdicts are delivered in the name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Article 160:

The term of office of the President of the Supreme Court is the same as that of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
The term of office of Judges and People’s Assessors of the Supreme Court, the Court of a province (or municipality directly under central authority) and the City (or District) or County People’s Courts is the same as that of the People’s Assembly at the corresponding level.

Article 161:

The President and Judges of the Special Court are appointed or removed by the Supreme Court.
The People’s Assessors of the Special Court are elected by the soldiers of the unit concerned or by employees at their meetings.

Article 162:

The functions of the Court are to:

  1. protect through judicial procedure the State power and the socialist system established in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the property of the State and social, cooperative organizations, personal rights as guaranteed by the Constitution, and the lives and property of citizens;
  2. ensure that all institutions, enterprises, organizations and citizens abide strictly by State laws and staunchly combat class enemies and all law-breakers;
  3. give judgements and findings with regard to property and conduct notarial work.

Article 163:

Justice is administered by a Court consisting of one Judge and two People’s Assessors. In special cases there may be three Judges.

Article 164:

Court cases are heard in public and the accused is guaranteed the right of defence.
Hearings may be closed to the public as stipulated by law.

Article 165:

Judicial proceedings are conducted in the Korean language. Foreign citizens may use their own language during court proceedings.

Article 166:

In administering justice, the Court is independent, and judicial proceedings are carried out in strict accordance with the law.

Article 167:

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial organ of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The Supreme Court supervises the judicial activities of all the Courts.

Article 168:

The Supreme Court is accountable to the Supreme People’s Assembly and to the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly when the Supreme People’s Assembly is not in session.