North Korea’s New Constitution: What Does the Abandonment of ‘Unification’ Mean for the Future?

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[Anchor] North Korea has revised its constitution to reflect a two-state policy. The amendments add a territorial clause that applies only to the North and remove reunification as an explicit goal. They do not, however, include language designating South Korea as an \”enemy state.\” This is Ji Seong-rim. [Reporter] At a briefing for reporters covering South Korea’s Unification Ministry, officials presented the revised North Korean constitution, which completely removes the phrase \”national reunification\” that appeared in the previous text. North Korea also added a new territorial clause, signaling that relations between the two Koreas are state-to-state, and stressed it will not tolerate any infringement on its territory. The amendment stops short of specifying boundaries between the two Koreas, including maritime lines. 「Lee Jung-chul / Professor, Dept. of Political Science and International Relations, Seoul National University」 I infer North Korea judged there was no need to highlight maritime boundaries and thereby create another source of friction between the North and South. Contrary to earlier signals from Kim Jong Un, the constitution amended in March does not include language designating South Korea as an \”enemy state.\” 「Lee Jung-chul / Professor, Dept. of Political Science and International Relations, Seoul National University」 In his January 2024 address, Kim Jong Un called for terms such as \”occupation,\” \”pacification,\” \”recovery,\” and \”incorporation into North Korean territory\” to be reflected in the constitution. The amended text contains none of those phrases. The revision significantly strengthens the powers and stature of the chairman of the State Affairs Commission. It redefines the chairman—previously referred to as the \”supreme leader\”—as the head of state and grants him formal representative authority. It also adds a provision allowing the chairman to delegate command over the country’s nuclear forces and the authority to use nuclear weapons. Much of the preface that praised Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il’s state-building achievements has been removed. The document now sets out the regime’s governing direction, including Kim Jong Un’s \”people-first\” ideology. The new constitution also removes references to \”comprehensive free healthcare\” and a \”tax-free nation,\” deletions analysts say reflect the reality that socialist welfare policies are not functioning in North Korean society. This is Ji Seong-rim reporting for Yonhap News TV. [Video reporting: Kim Dong-hwa] [Video editing: Park Eun-jun] [Graphics: Kim Hyung-seo] For Yonhap News TV tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Ji Seong-rim (yoonik@yna.co.kr)