SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament approved on Tuesday a compulsory 12-year education system, the country's state media said as it held an unexpected gathering of legislators.

   "Ordinance of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly on enforcing universal 12-year compulsory education was promulgated at the session," the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to the county by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

  


North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was present at the sixth session of the 12th assembly, the KCNA said. Currently the country has an 11-year compulsory education system.

   The KCNA report, however, did not mention any agenda related to economic reform as domestic and foreign media closely followed the irregular parliamentary session widely expected to deliberate on its push to renovate its agricultural production system.

   The country is believed to be forging ahead with an agricultural reform to increase farm produce and subdue rising food prices.

   The North announced the second annual parliamentary session in early September. The meeting is usually held once every year.

   pbr@yna.co.kr
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