North Korea’s law then defines the South as a “hostile state”, according to state media, in the first notice of what Pyongyang’s new constitutional edits entailed.
At a time when Korean tensions are at their highest level in years, Rodong Sinmun, the state newspaper, described the change as an “inevitable and reasonable measure.”
The North destroyed the roads and railroads that connected it to South Korea on Tuesday, according to state media, and it was “part of the step-by-step application to completely separate ] the Koreas.”
Given that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un renounced integration as early as December 2023, some observers view the constitutional amendment as a mostly symbolic walk.
According to Kim, who was quoted as saying that inter-Korean relationships were” a relationship between two hostile states and two combatants at warfare” at the time, the state media reported Kim.
Then, in January, he declared integration with South Korea as unthinkable, and hinted at constitutional changes to identify the South as the “principal enemy”.
Tensions have rapidly increased as a result of a series of exchanges between Koreas since then, particularly in recent months.
The word “hostile state” has characterised North Korean contacts for nearly a year then, said Bruce Bennett, a military analyst at Rand Corporation.
According to Mr. Bennett,” It was a major growth when it was announced at the end of 2023, because it increased the chances of fight and the potential for an increase spiral.”
” Since then, Kim and his sister have made a number of nuclear weapon threats against]South Korea ] and United States, and have escalated tensions with many actions. So the challenges have grown”.
At a Supreme People’s Assembly ( SPA ) meeting last week, many onlookers had anticipated that Pyongyang would introduce constitutional changes to border and unification policies, but no such changes have been made widely known.
However, analysts are cautious about the possibility of a full-blown war.
” I doubt that the condition will turn into war,” remarked Professor Kang Dong-wan, who teaches social science and politics at Busan’s Dong-a University. ” North Korea is utilizing defense hostility to improve inside unity.”
However, Professor Kim Dong-yup from the Seoul-based University of North Korean Studies questioned Pyongyang’s capacity to start a full-fledged conflict.
The government is also aware of the serious repercussions a conflict like this would have, he said.
Joel Guinto provided extra monitoring.