North Korea has officially amended its constitution to designate South Korea as a “hostile” state, citing escalating security threats and growing tensions, according to state-run media on Thursday.
“This is an inevitable and legitimate measure, as per the DPRK Constitution, which clearly defines the ROK as a hostile state due to severe security circumstances, driven by political and military provocations that have brought the situation to the brink of war,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
This move follows a decision by the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), North Korea’s legislative body, which met last week and amended the constitution to explicitly name South Korea as its “primary enemy.” The change was proposed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un earlier this year, reinforcing his stance that reunification with South Korea is no longer feasible.
The constitutional amendment comes amid rising tensions. Last year, North Korea withdrew from a 2018 inter-Korean agreement that had established buffer zones and suspended military activities along the border. This week, North Korea further escalated the situation by cutting off road and rail links with South Korea, effectively severing inter-Korean routes on both the eastern and western sides of the border.
Additionally, North Korea claimed that over 1.4 million young people have volunteered to join its military, following allegations that South Korean drones had entered North Korean airspace, a claim the South has not confirmed. These developments underscore the deepening rift between the two nations.
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