North Korea is to hold elections to its parliament in March, state media has said, after a delay of several months amid speculation over the health of its leader, Kim Jong-il.

In a two-line report, the official Korea Central New Agency said the election of deputies would take place on March 8.

The North Korean parliament, or Supreme People's Assembly, is a rubber-stamp body that usually meets once or twice a year to unanimously pass budgets or decisions made by the country's leadership.

Elections to the assembly are widely considered to be a formality with candidates hand-picked by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and expected to have total loyalty and subservience to Kim's leadership.

In the last election in 2003, 687 deputies, including Kim, were appointed to the assembly with state media reporting voter turnout close to 100 per cent.

Elections are normally held every five years and one had been due to take place in August 2008.

No reason was given for the delay, although recent months have seen growing international speculation over Kim's health, amid reports he may have suffered a stroke or possibly be dead.

North Korea has repeatedly insisted Kim is alive and well.

But despite reports in state media detailing his activities none has specified exact locations or dates.