N. Korea replaces vice chairman of national defense commission

North Korea replaced the vice chairman of its powerful National Defense Commission in this year's second session of the rubber-stamp parliament on Thursday, the country's media said.

   Hwang Pyong-so, the top political officer of the Korean People's Army, was elected as vice chairman of the all-powerful defense commission, replacing Choe Ryong-hae who had taken the position in the past parliamentary session in April, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English report, monitored in Seoul.

   The North's top leader, Kim Jong-un, who heads the commission, was absent in the meeting, it said.

   Kim, who last appeared in public on Sept. 3 to attend a concert, has been seen walking with a limp in recent video footage released from the North. This has fueled wild speculations that he may have a health problem.

   "It (the parliamentary session) recalled Deputy Choe Ryong-hae from the post of vice chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK due to his transfer to another post," the report said.

   Since his ascent to the top political officer at the military in May, Hwang has been widely believed to be at the center of power in the Kim regime.  

   The second parliamentary session also discussed the country's 12-year compulsory education system, adopted in 2012, the report said.

   The 13th Supreme People's Assembly usually holds its annual session in March or April, bringing together 687 delegates from across the country. This year, the first session was held in April.

   A second session is sometimes convened in the autumn to approve key public policy or legal measures. (Yonhap)