Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea

First Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea
Coat of Arms of North Korea
Incumbent Kim Jong-un since 13 April 2012
Residence	Ryongsong Residence
Appointer	Supreme People's Assembly
Inaugural holder	Kim il-sung
Formation	9 September 1948

The First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the supreme commander of the armed forces of North Korea and the most powerful person in the government as the Supreme Leader of North Korea.

The post was first called as Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It was confirmed as the highest position in the country on 5 September 1998. The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) elects the Chairman for a period of five years. The election is held immediately subsequent to the election of a new People's Assembly.

The past holder of the position was Kim Jong-il, who was elected on 9 April 1993, running unopposed, and was re-elected on 1998, 2003 and 2009. He died on 17 December 2011. On 13 April 2012, during the session of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Jong-il was designated as "Eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea", while his son, Kim Jong-un was appointed as the "First Chairman".

On 24 December 2011, the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea formally appointed Kim Jong-un as the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.

There is debate as to whether "highest office of state" should be considered equivalent to head of state. Kim Il-sung, the first leader of North Korea, was declared Eternal President, but it appears that the office is a facet of his extensive cult of personality. The Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, who handles the diplomatic functions that a head of state might normally undertake, is also sometimes considered the de jure head of state.