North Korea announced Friday that it will hold a major parliamentary meeting next month, which may reveal Pyongyang's new policy and a change in the lineup of leader Kim Jong-un's closest aides.
  

"The 3rd session of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on April 9," the Korean Central News Agency reported.
  

It will be the first regular meeting of the assembly this year.
  

The SPA is the legislative body of the communist nation, composed of 687 representatives from across the nation.
  

It is the highest organ of state power under the North's Constitution, although it actually rubber-stamps decisions by more powerful organizations, such as the National Defense Commission and the Workers' Party of Korea.
  

In the upcoming gathering, the North is expected to appoint new officials at top state organizations and pass this year's state budget plan.
  

South Korea's unification ministry said it will closely monitor the results of the meeting.
  

"Every year, North Korea has convened the SPA meeting around April and discussed budget issues and also handled affairs related with organization and legislation," ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol said at a press briefing.
  

North Korea watchers said the North may approve legislation on new economic policy and defense strategy as Kim Jong-un is in his fourth year of power.
  

They also raised the possibility of Pyongyang replacing Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the SPA, who serves as ceremonial head of the nation. Speculation has grown recently over the health of Kim, who is 87 years old.
  

If Kim retires, Choe Thae-bok, chairman of the SPA, is a candidate to succeed him, the observers said.
  

In the previous session held in September last year, Hwang Pyong-so, director of the general political department of the Korean People's Army, was appointed vice chairman of the National Defense Commission.
  

Defense Minister Hyon Yong-chol and Ri Pyong-chol, vice chief of the KPA General Staff, were named new members of the commission chaired by leader Kim. (Yonhap)