Almost all North Korean voters casted ballots on Sunday to elect representatives for local assemblies, state media said, with the polls expected to unanimously favour the ruling communist party. The vote for deputies to assemblies at provincial, city and county levels began at 9:00am (0000 GMT) across the country, with participants in a festive mood, Korean Central News Agency said.
"Polling stations are crowded with well-dressed voters eagerly waiting for their turns... with many dancing to music of drums and gongs," KCNA said.
It said that all participants would cast "yes" votes in support of the ruling communist party, adding later about 98 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots until 2 pm. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il visited a polling station in the capital Pyongyang to cast his vote along with other senior officials including his youngest son and heir apparent, Jong-Un, said KCNA.
Usually, 99 percent of voters in the de facto single-party state take part in elections and 99 percent of them cast "yes" votes for uncontested candidates. During their four-year term, the local assemblies convene once or twice a year to approve budgets and endorse leaders appointed by the communist party.
Analysts have said this year's elections were aimed at revamping official bodies before a major political event next year to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding president Kim Il-Sung.