North Korea Revises Constitution to Define Borders with South Korea and Remove Unification References

North Korea has revised its constitution to define its territory as bordering South Korea, remove references to reunification, and designate Kim Jong Un as head of state, according to a draft text reviewed by Reuters. The amendments, adopted at a March meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly, codify leader Kim Jong Un's policy of treating the two Koreas as separate states.

This marks the first inclusion of a territorial clause in the constitution. The new Article 2 states that North Korea's territory includes land bordering the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation to the north and the Republic of Korea to the south, along with corresponding territorial waters and airspace.

It asserts that North Korea will never tolerate any infringement on its territory. However, the clause does not specify the exact border with South Korea or mention disputed maritime boundaries, such as the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea.

The revised constitution explicitly places command over North Korea's nuclear forces with the chairman of the State Affairs Commission, formally assigning authority over the nuclear arsenal to Kim Jong Un. A separate defense clause describes North Korea as a responsible nuclear weapons state and commits to advancing nuclear weapons development to safeguard national survival, deter war, and protect regional and global peace.

These provisions build on Kim Jong Un's January 2024 call to amend the constitution, defining South Korea as the primary foe and invariable principal enemy, and stating that North Korean territory is separate from the South. Lee Jung-chul, a Seoul National University professor, told a briefing at South Korea's Unification Ministry that the omission of a specific inter-Korean border suggests Pyongyang aims to avoid immediate new friction while embedding the two hostile states doctrine in its highest law.

South Korean media reported this assessment. Pyongyang has pursued a more hostile policy toward Seoul in recent years, rebuffing repeated overtures for dialogue from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. State media have shown her at missile launches, military drills, and public events, often dressed in styles mirroring her father's or evoking maturity, such as leather jackets and formal suits.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service assesses her as the most likely successor, with her public debut in November 2022 linking her to the nation's nuclear program. Analysts note that her attire, dictated by the Propaganda and Agitation Department, projects a mature image to offset her youth, while replicating elements from previous leaders like Kim Il Sung to build legitimacy.

Recent images from early 2026 depict her firing a sniper rifle and operating a battle tank during tactical drills. This acceleration in her visibility contrasts with the later public grooming of previous heirs and may address Kim Jong Un's reported health concerns.

The regime's use of maternal symbolism and image replication tactics aims to legitimize a potential female successor in a patriarchal society. While ordinary North Koreans face strict bans on Western fashion under the 2020 Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act, Kim Ju Ae has appeared in luxury items like a Christian Dior jacket, highlighting exemptions for the ruling family.

Korea's permanent UN mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the constitutional changes. The revisions align with Pyongyang's rejection of unification goals, shifting from earlier doctrines that emphasized reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

In parallel, reports indicate affluent North Koreans emulating Kim Ju Ae's styles, with increases in luxury goods like fur coats and leather trenchcoats circulating despite restrictions. This trend underscores the Kim family's influence as unlikely fashion icons in a society with limited external information access.

The constitutional updates and succession signals together indicate a consolidation of power under Kim Jong Un while preparing for potential dynastic transition.