North Korea's Constitution: Territorial Claims and Hostile Two-State Declaration

North Korea recently amended its constitution, a move that significantly alters its constitutional framework and signals a hardening stance towards South Korea. The revised constitution, announced in March, notably removes the term "socialist" from the country's official name and deletes previous references to achieving unification based on principles of self-reliance, peaceful reunification, and national unity.

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The territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea includes the land bordering China and Russia to the north and South Korea to the south, along with its territorial waters and airspace.

The most striking change is the introduction of a territorial clause for the first time. Article 2 now states that the territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea includes the land bordering China and Russia to the north and South Korea to the south, along with its territorial waters and airspace. This constitutional provision explicitly defines South Korea as a "foreign" entity, thereby formalizing a system of "two separate states" based on permanent separation rather than a special relationship.

This constitutional declaration stands in stark contrast to South Korea's constitution, which defines the territory of the Republic of Korea as the Korean peninsula and its adjacent islands. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has criticized South Korea's constitutional claim, viewing it as an assertion that the South is territory and people to be "recaptured." He further stated that designating those who declare the South as the "main enemy" and collude with external forces for "regime collapse" and "absorption unification" as partners for reconciliation and unification would be an "unforgivable mistake."

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South Korea's constitution clearly states that the territory of the Republic of Korea is the Korean peninsula and its adjacent islands.

The article also delves into the historical context of the North Korea-China border, referencing the 1712 Baekdusan Monument and the 1962 border treaty. It highlights how the treaty, while resolving border issues, led to North Korea gaining approximately 54% of the surface area of Lake Chonji (Heaven Lake) on Baekdusan (Mount Paektu). The author notes the secrecy surrounding these border agreements and the difficulty in accessing official documentation, underscoring the opaque nature of North Korea's foreign policy and constitutional changes.

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Designating those who declare us the 'main enemy' and collude with external forces for 'regime collapse' and 'absorption unification' as partners for reconciliation and unification would be an unforgivable mistake.