Korean Residents Association in Japan Removes Unification Clauses from Charter

The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, known as Chongryon, has officially removed clauses related to Korean unification from its guiding principles. This significant policy shift was confirmed following the organization's 26th general assembly held in Tokyo from June 23-24, where amendments to its charter and regulations were unanimously adopted.

This decision mirrors North Korea's recent constitutional revision, which also saw the deletion of articles pertaining to unification. Previously, Chongryon's 2004 charter explicitly stated a commitment to achieving peaceful, independent unification of the Korean Peninsula through a federal system, in line with the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. The revised charter now focuses on preserving national identity, stating the organization will "cherish our language and writing, Korean history and culture, and fine customs within the Korean community, and maintain our national identity across generations through pan-national cultural movements."

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We cherish our language and writing, Korean history and culture, and fine customs within the Korean community, and maintain our national identity across generations through pan-national cultural movements.

The shift away from unification reflects a broader hardening of inter-Korean relations and a redefinition of national identity by Pyongyang. While the North Korean constitution's amendment was publicly announced, the specific details of Chongryon's charter revision were not prominently featured in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, which only reported the unanimous adoption of the changes. However, the unification ministry in South Korea confirmed the amendment occurred on June 4.

Chongryon's First Vice Chairman, Pak Ku-ho, emphasized the importance of a letter sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the organization's 70th anniversary last December. He stated that the new direction involves protecting the rights and interests of Korean residents in Japan, fostering the next generation through national education, and overcoming the current situation to usher in a new era for the movement. The assembly also re-elected Ho Jong-man as chairman of Chongryon's Central Standing Committee and formed a new committee.

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The new direction is to overcome the current situation of preserving national identity in the Korean community, including national education and fostering the next generation, and to open a new phase for the all-round development of the movement of Koreans in Japan.