[1] All candidates standing in the elections in North Korea were members of one of the parties comprising the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland.

A single candidate, approved by the North-Korean leadership, ran in each of the 687 districts, thereby guaranteeing a full victory by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, regardless of voter turnout.

[3][4] Kim Jong-il, the de facto leader of North Korea and the Chairman of the National Defence Commission, ran for election in Constituency 333.

[5] The 11th Supreme People's Assembly was dissolved and elections were called for North Korea's 687 electoral districts on 7 January 2009.

Allegations had surfaced of bribes being paid to officials conducting registration drives to declare family members who have defected as being deceased.

[8] The bribes themselves have been overlooked by the National Security Agency as the North Korean government demands the lists be complete to ensure that there is 100% turnout in the vote.

[7] The voting for deputies of the Supreme People's Assembly in 2009 consisted of using paper ballots containing the name of a single candidate nominated in each district.

[10] Proxy votes were ordered to be cast by family members of North Korean defectors who were detained in prisons within China.

[21] The election was a largely peaceful event, but some vandalism of candidate posters, along with anti-election graffiti, occurred in Mundeuk, South Pyongan Province.

"[13] Peter Hughes, the British ambassador to North Korea, garnered significant outrage and controversy from around the world after he blogged about the election having a festive atmosphere.

[27] The rumors also stated that following the election the new parliament "may also replace members of [Kim's] cabinet and the National Defense Commission, the top ruling agency.