North Korea's rubber stamp parliament was set to meet today for its second session this year, with observers watching for possible personnel and policy changes.
The event will also be monitored for an appearance by leader Kim Jong-Un who has not been seen in public for several weeks, prompting speculation in South Korea about his health.
The Supreme People's Assembly meets only once or twice a year, mostly for day-long sessions to rubber-stamp budgets or other decisions made by the ruling party.
The second session was announced earlier this month by the North's official KCNA news agency, but with no mention of the planned agenda.
"We'll be looking for potential personnel changes, as well as any signals of policy changes involving the economy," said Yang Moo-Jin, professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
Scrutiny of the North's opaque leadership structure intensified following the execution last December of Kim Jong-Un's uncle and political mentor, Jang Song-Thaek.
Kim normally attends the parliamentary sessions and any absence this time around will fuel rumours of health issues.
Kim has not been seen since he attended a concert with his wife on September 3. Previous video footage on state media had shown him walking with a pronounced limp.
The parliamentary session coincides with the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York, where South Korean President Park Geun-Hye yesterday urged the world to help bring peace to the divided Korean peninsula.
"I call on the international community to stand with us in tearing down the world's last remaining wall of division," she told the assembly.
Park also reiterated her pledge to engage North Korea if it pursues "a different path" that includes giving up nuclear weapons.
