North Korea has taken a dramatic step towards further isolation by amending its Constitution, for the first time formally labeling South Korea as a ‘hostile state.’ This declaration comes as part of Kim Jong-un’s broader shift in policy, announced earlier this year, to abandon unification with the South as a national goal.
The confirmation of the Constitution revision comes just two days after the North Korean military demolished front-line road and rail links that once connected the two Koreas. The North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) justified the destruction, stating it was an ‘inevitable and legitimate measure taken in keeping with the requirement of the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) constitution which clearly defines the ROK (Republic of Korea) as a hostile state.’ Satellite imagery released by BlackSky confirmed the demolition, showing a large gash in the road leading to the North Korean city of Kaesong.
The KCNA report also quoted a defense ministry spokesperson saying that North Korea would take further steps to ‘permanently fortify the closed southern border.’ While the spokesperson didn’t mention any other constitutional changes, Kim Jong-un’s recent pronouncements suggest a further hardening of North Korea’s stance towards its southern neighbor.
South Korea has vehemently condemned the Constitution change and the ‘hostile state’ characterization. The Unification Ministry, responsible for handling relations with North Korea, stated it would not waver in its efforts towards peaceful reunification. The ministry condemned the move, calling it a ‘North’s anti-unification, anti-national act.’ They also pledged a stern response to any further provocations from North Korea.
Relations between the two Koreas have been deteriorating since January, when Kim Jong-un declared South Korea to be his country’s ‘principal enemy’ and expressed a lack of interest in reunification. He called for a Constitutional amendment to remove unification as a goal and redefine North Korea’s sovereign territorial sphere. This decision, he explained, stemmed from the alleged collusion of South Korea with the United States to seek the collapse of his communist regime.
The North Korean parliament met for two days last week to rewrite the Constitution, ultimately enacting Kim Jong-un’s desired changes. The escalating tensions between North and South Korea, marked by the demolition of inter-Korean infrastructure and the formal designation of South Korea as a ‘hostile state’, raise serious concerns about the future of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. The 2018 agreement to ease military tensions between the two Koreas is now considered invalid, further complicating the already delicate situation.