 North Korea on November 28 made a rare mention of dissenting votes in recent elections, although analysts dismissed it as an attempt to portray an image of a normal society rather than signalling any meaningful increase of rights in the authoritarian state, reporting on the results of Sunday's election for deputies to regional people's assemblies. The North state media said 0.09 percent and 0.13 percent voted against the selected candidates for the provincial and city councils. Respectively the North's parliament and regional councils serve as a rubber stamp to the ruling workers' party, with their elections usually registering over 99 percent voter turnout. And this month's election marks the first time North Korea has referred to dissenting votes in local polls since the 1960s.The reclusive North has one of the most highly controlled societies in the world, with leader Kim Jong-un accused of using a system of patronage and repression to retain absolute power. The 99.87 percent of the candidates for the regional and city councils have voted for dissenting votes in the regional and city councils. The 99.87 percent of the candidates for the regional and city councils have voted for dissenting votes in the regional and city councils.