North Korea on Sunday convened a session of its top legislative body, the Supreme People's Assembly, state-run media reported Monday, but the gathering ended apparently without leader Kim Jong Un's attendance.
At the session, legislation related to the country's new five-year national economic development strategy was adopted, while new Cabinet members were approved, the official Korean Central News Agency said.
Premier Kim Tok Hun, who was retained, was quoted by KCNA as saying at the meeting that the Cabinet "will definitely put our economy on a normal track that makes sustained development, unaffected by any outside influence."
"We will actively solve scientific and technical problems urgent in carrying out the new five-year plan for national economic development and propel the development of core and advanced ultra-modern technology," the premier added.
The legislation endorsed a blueprint that will allow North Korea to spend 15.9 percent of its 2021 total budget for "sustained development" of its defense capabilities. The actual amount of the budget is unknown.
Before the gathering, the focus was also on whether Kim Jong Un's title as national leader would have changed from chairman of the State Affairs Commission to president, a title last held by his grandfather and North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung.
Such a decision, however, was not made at the latest session of the Supreme People's Assembly, which took place just days after the ruling Workers' Party wrapped up its first congress in nearly five years.
During the eight-day congress that ended last Tuesday, Kim Jong Un was elected general secretary of the party, taking over the top post previously held by his late father, Kim Jong Il, the nation's previous leader.
The Supreme People's Assembly is usually convened once a year in April to rubber-stamp budgetary and personnel matters already determined by the ruling party, headed by Kim Jong Un. This year, the session was convened following the party congress.
Related coverage:
North Korea set to convene session of top legislative body
North Korea stages military parade ahead of U.S. Biden's inauguration
Kim pledges to bolster North Korea nuke arsenal at party congress: KCNA
