North Korea's Constitution Enshrines Kim Jong Un's Nuclear Command; Strengthening Deterrence is Urgent

The Dong-A Ilbo, a leading South Korean newspaper, views North Korea's recent constitutional changes with grave concern, interpreting them as a definitive institutionalization of Kim Jong Un's nuclear ambitions and a complete abandonment of the inter-Korean unification policy. The editorial highlights the alarming deletion of terms like 'North' and 'national reunification' from the constitution, replaced by a territorial clause that explicitly acknowledges borders with China, Russia, and South Korea.

This move, the paper argues, signals Pyongyang's strategic shift from seeking a unified Korea to solidifying its status as a nuclear-armed state and treating South Korea as a distinct, hostile entity. The explicit inclusion of Kim Jong Un's nuclear command authority and the provision for delegating such power in emergencies are seen as particularly dangerous escalations, moving beyond mere threats to a codified doctrine of nuclear preparedness.

Dong-A Ilbo criticizes the South Korean government's perceived indecisiveness in its North Korea policy, contrasting it with North Korea's resolute actions. The paper points to the 'END plan' and recent attempts to reframe inter-Korean relations as ineffective and divisive. From a South Korean perspective, the article emphasizes the urgent need for strengthening deterrence, enhancing ROK-US strategic coordination, and adopting a more measured foreign policy approach, rather than pursuing potentially destabilizing engagement strategies.

The paper also notes North Korea's successful leveraging of international dynamics, particularly its deepening ties with Russia and China following its support in the Ukraine war, to bolster its global standing and defy international sanctions. This regional realignment, coupled with its nuclear advancements, makes North Korea a more dangerous and unpredictable actor, a reality that demands a robust and clear-headed response from Seoul.