Kim Jong-il in remarkable victory

Mr Kim is set to receive "absolute worship" from elected deputies

North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il has won another sweeping victory in elections for the country's Supreme People's Assembly, or parliament.

The country's official KCNA news agency, which regularly lauds the so-called "dear leader" for his feats as a writer, philosopher and film-buff, said Mr Kim's latest success was to have received 100% of the vote for constituency 649.

The agency made no mention of the fact that Mr Kim stood unopposed.

But it did spell out that his victory was an "expression of the absolute support and trust of all the servicemen and the people in him, and a striking manifestation of the revolutionary spirit and indomitable will of them to vigorously advance under the uplifted banner of Songun (military first), single-heartedly united around the party".

He [Kim] has aroused the whole party, the whole army and the entire people to brave the raging storm of the revolution KCNA Profile of Kim Jong-il

The elections, held on Sunday, chose 687 deputies to the 11th Supreme People's Assembly, where they will serve a five-year term.

In theory, the body has the power to write laws and approve the government's budget, but in reality it is a rubber-stamp assembly which answers to the Korean Workers Party and its general secretary, Mr Kim.

KCNA said separate elections held for lower-level assemblies showed a turnout of 99.9%, with every candidate approved.

The shortfall from perfection was explained, the agency explained, by the fact that citizens living and working overseas did not take part.