Described as more of a political ritual compared to Western standards, North Koreans approved the new roster of deputies for the Supreme People's Assembly, the country's legislature, on Sunday. The election is held normally every five years. This was the first election since the death of Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011.

Kim Jong Un, according to a report in The Chosunilbo, recently ordered the execution of 33 people for converting to Christianity and receiving money from South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung Wook to start 500 underground churches.

The converts were accused of trying to overthrow the regime in North Korea through the establishment of the underground churches.

Experts says Kim Jong Un intended to make a harsh example out of the converts as a part of ramped up efforts to reinforce his country's "juche" or self-reliance doctrine and keep out capitalist practices and beliefs.