The government says North Korea's decision to postpone a scheduled parliamentary session is due to internal reasons more than the external pressure it faces regarding its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea had originally scheduled its Supreme People's Assembly to convene for a two-day session starting next Wednesday, but abruptly announced the session's indefinite postponement today. Pyongyang gave no reason for the delay, saying only that the decision was made at the request of Assembly deputies.

It is rare for the North Korean Assembly to postpone a scheduled session.

A high-ranking South Korean government official said the postponement may be due to technical reasons such as the handling of budgetary matters.

Another government official said the North's decision may be an effort to solidify unity around leader Kim Jong-il in the midst of ongoing tensions over its nuclear arms program.

The official said it cannot be ruled out that the decision may be an attempt to create a sense of internal crisis to strengthen the country's unity.