North Korea has amended its constitution to define its territory as bordering South Korea to the south and has removed references to reunification from the text, according to Reuters, citing the document. The move solidifies leader Kim Jong Un's push to treat the two Koreas as separate states, the agency noted.

The constitutional changes were likely made during a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly in March, said Lee Jong-chol, a professor at Seoul National University. He noted that this is the first time North Korea has included a territorial clause in its constitution. The new Article 2 states that North Korea's territory comprises lands bordering “the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation in the north and the Republic of Korea in the south,” along with corresponding territorial waters and airspace.

The article also declares that Pyongyang “will never tolerate any encroachment” on its territory, but does not specify the location of the border with South Korea or mention disputed maritime areas, including the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, Reuters reported.

In the revised version, Kim Jong Un is also designated as chairman of the State Affairs Commission. Previously, he was referred to as the supreme leader representing the state. Additionally, the constitution defines North Korea as a “responsible nuclear state” and calls the chairman of the State Affairs Commission the commander of nuclear forces.

Terms related to reunification and ethnic nationalism, such as “northern half,” “reunification of the fatherland,” “peaceful reunification,” and “great national unity,” have been removed from the preamble and main text, The Korea Herald reported. According to Lee Jong-chol, these changes reinforce the “two hostile states” doctrine announced by Kim Jong Un in late 2023.

References to the achievements of state founder Kim Il Sung and his successor, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's father, have also been removed from the constitution, The Korea Herald wrote. The BBC Russian Service noted that the reunification of the people in a single state had been linked to them.

North Korea adopted its first constitution in September 1948. In 1972, Pyongyang adopted a new socialist constitution. The March revision no longer includes the word “socialist” in its title, the newspaper noted.

Source: www.gazeta.uz