NK`s budget for this year stands at $9.9 billion

North Korea`s Supreme People`s Assembly wrapped up its fourth-round Assembly session on Thursday after approving the 2000 budget settlement and the 2001 budget programs, Pyongyang`s Central Broadcasting Station announced. Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il attended the assembly sitting.

North Korean Prime Minister Hong Sung-Nam told the session that the North would expand and develop external relations with as many countries as possible based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, non-interference and mutual benefits.

The current year`s budget bill was scaled at $9.894 billion, including $3.134 billion or 14.5 percent of the total in defense spending, the broadcaster said.

The Assembly closed its session after passing the processing trade bill, copyright bill, sluice bill and other measures. It marked the seventh time the Assembly had ended a session after only one day.

Kim Young-Sik spear@donga.com