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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

North Korea Amends Constitution, Formalizes 'Two-State' Relations, Removes Unification References

From Hankyoreh · (4m ago) Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • North Korea has amended its constitution to establish a territory clause and remove references to unification, solidifying its status as a separate state.
  • The revised constitution defines the nation's territory bordering China, Russia, and South Korea, but avoids specifying exact land or maritime borders.
  • The amendment also strengthens Kim Jong Un's authority, designating him as 'Head of State' and explicitly granting him nuclear command authority.

North Korea's recent constitutional revision, confirmed on April 6th, represents a significant step in formally codifying the 'two-state' policy previously articulated by leader Kim Jong Un. The inclusion of a specific territory clause in Article 2, defining the DPRK's borders with China, Russia, and the Republic of Korea, serves to bolster the nation's statehood and sovereignty. This move, however, is carefully calibrated; by omitting precise land and maritime boundaries, Pyongyang appears to be signaling a desire to avoid immediate escalations over contentious areas like the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

The territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea includes the land bordering the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation to the north, and the Republic of Korea to the south, as well as the territorial sea and airspace established on that basis.

— North Korean Constitution (Article 2)The newly added territory clause in North Korea's revised constitution.

The removal of all terms related to 'North,' 'fatherland unification,' and the 'complete victory of socialism' from the constitution's preamble and body signifies a definitive break from the historical narrative of a unified Korean peninsula. This aligns with Kim Jong Un's pronouncements that inter-Korean relations should be viewed as those between two distinct countries. The deliberate exclusion of 'hostile' or 'belligerent' state language, despite the 'two-state' framework, suggests a strategic choice to manage inter-state dynamics without overtly provoking conflict.

Expressions of hostile relations or relations between belligerent states do not appear.

— Lee Jeong-cheolProfessor Lee Jeong-cheol of Seoul National University analyzing the language used in the revised constitution.

Furthermore, the constitutional changes significantly enhance Kim Jong Un's personal authority. He is now formally designated as the 'Head of State,' and crucially, the constitution explicitly enshrines his command authority over nuclear weapons. This reflects the policy adopted in September 2022 regarding nuclear force policy and consolidates power within the State Affairs Commission. While this revision clearly delineates North Korea as a separate entity, the nuanced approach to inter-state language and border definitions indicates a complex strategy aimed at asserting national identity while maintaining a degree of control over regional tensions.

The command of nuclear weapons belongs to the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

— North Korean ConstitutionThe revised constitution explicitly stating Kim Jong Un's authority over nuclear weapons.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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