North Korea’s Revised Constitution: What Does It Mean for South-North Relations in 2026?
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[Anchor] South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said North Korea’s revised constitution affirms the existence of two Korean states while significantly toning down hostile language toward the South. The NIS said Pyongyang appears to have moderated its rhetoric. This is Park Su-ju reporting. [Reporter] In a briefing to the National Assembly, the NIS said the revised constitution affirms two states while substantially reducing overt hostility toward the South. The agency noted the addition of an “inviolability” clause that vows never to tolerate territorial infringement, but it also pointed out that the constitution does not label the Republic of Korea as a wartime target to be subdued or name it as a principal adversary; explicitly hostile wording is otherwise absent. Although North Korea has declared the two Koreas to be hostile states, the constitution now reflects the “two states” formulation while moderating the overall tone, a development the NIS judged with cautious approval. For the first time, North Korea added a constitutional clause defining its territory as the area bordering China and Russia to the north and the Republic of Korea to the south. 「Park Sun-won / Ruling party member, National Assembly Intelligence Committee」 “The break with the Republic of Korea is clear, but I assess that the language puts greater emphasis on maintaining the status quo and managing the situation than on an offensive posture toward the Republic of Korea,” Park said. North Korea also significantly strengthened Chairman Kim Jong Un’s powers by explicitly enshrining his command authority over nuclear forces for the first time and adding a provision that allows the nuclear force command body to exercise delegated authority. The NIS interprets those provisions as a clear external declaration that North Korea will not give up its nuclear arsenal, and it suggested the delegation clause could be intended to allow a successor to respond if Kim becomes incapacitated. Meanwhile, the NIS welcomed the North Korean women’s soccer team’s planned visit to the South on the 17th—its first in more than seven years—but said it would be inappropriate to speculate publicly on the trip’s possible effects on inter-Korean relations. This is Park Su-ju for Yonhap News TV. [Video reporting: Kim Seong-su, Park Tae-beom] [Video editing: Kim Hwi-su] [Graphics: Kim Hyeong-seo] Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/LINE jebo23 Park Su-ju (sooju@yna.co.kr)
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