According to multiple reports, the constitutional revision was adopted at a March session of the Supreme People's Assembly. The changes eliminate longstanding language on 'peaceful reunification' with the South and 'national unity'. Terms associated with reunification and ethnic nationalism, including 'northern half', 'reunification of the fatherland', 'peaceful reunification' and 'great national unity', have been removed from both the preamble and the main text.
The phrase 'Kim Il-sung–Kim Jong-il Constitution' has also been deleted. ' However, the text does not specify the exact inter-Korean boundary and makes no mention of disputed maritime lines such as the Northern Limit Line. The constitutional changes strengthen the authority of the State Affairs Commission chairman, formally defined as the 'head of state' and placed above other state institutions.
North Korea adopted its constitution in September 1948 and revised it five times before introducing a socialist constitution in 1972. After 12 further amendments, North Korea reportedly updated the document early this year, removing the word 'socialist' from its title. In a speech in March, Kim Jong Un called South Korea 'the most hostile country'.
South Korea's president Lee Jae-Myung wants the countries to negotiate without preconditions in hopes of peace. The exact wording of the new constitutional article regarding Kim Jong Un's authority over nuclear weapons has not been disclosed. It remains unclear whether the word 'socialist' has been removed from the constitution's title and what the new title would be.
The international community's reaction to the revision is also not yet known.