Leader Kim was not among the new deputies, an unprecedented move that prompted speculation about why he decided not to take a parliamentary seat. Both of his predecessors, grandfather Kim Il-sung and father Kim Jong-il, served as SPA members while they ruled the country.

A high-profile North Korean defector, Thae Young-ho, said Kim could try to amend the constitution to become the country's official head of state. Other analysts said the decision could mean Kim is trying to project himself as a leader of a normal state where the executive and legislative branches are separate.

This year's meeting is also drawing keen attention as the North could unveil its policy on its nuclear and missile programs following the collapse of Kim's second summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi last month.

The SPA is the highest organ of state power under the constitution, but it actually rubber-stamps decisions by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. It holds a plenary session every April to mainly deal with budgets and a cabinet personnel reshuffle. (Yonhap)