Pyongyang: North Korea has officially amended its constitution to define South Korea as a “hostile state,” according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). This declaration marks the first confirmation that Pyongyang has revised its basic law to view South Korea as an enemy, following directives from leader Kim Jong-un. The announcement comes in the wake of North Korea’s recent actions to sever key transportation links with South Korea, which were previously symbols of inter-Korean reconciliation.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the KCNA disclosed that the constitutional revision aligns with Kim Jong-un’s strategy, transforming the inter-Korean relationship from potential partners in reconciliation and unification to adversaries. North Korea’s aggressive stance was highlighted earlier this week when it destroyed roads and railways connecting the two Koreas. KCNA described these actions as “inevitable and legitimate measures” necessitated by the new constitutional mandate under severe security
threats, which they claim have reached the brink of war due to South Korea’s provocations.
The report did not elaborate on the specifics of the constitutional amendments but indicated that these changes were in accordance with Kim’s previous statements labeling South Korea as North Korea’s “invariable principal enemy.” In a significant policy shift, Kim, during a year-end party meeting last December, declared that reconciliation or unification with South Korea was no longer a goal. Further cementing this position, in January, he called for the constitution to be revised to reflect this adversarial stance and ordered the physical severance of all inter-Korean connections.
The destruction of transportation infrastructure was particularly symbolic as it involved both the Gyeongui Line, which connects the South’s western border city of Paju to the North’s Kaesong, and the Donghae Line along the east coast. KCNA reported that parts of these roads and the railway in Gangwon Province and Kaesong have been “complet
ely blocked through blasting.”
This move to permanently block and fortify the border indicates a significant escalation in tensions and a formal cessation of efforts towards reconciliation under the current North Korean regime. The international community is closely monitoring these developments, which represent a stark departure from the 1991 inter-Korean Basic Agreement that tentatively defined the relationship between the two Koreas as part of a reunification process.