On Thursday, October 17, 2024, North Korean state media announced that South Korea has been classified as an “enemy state” and confirmed that its highest People’s Assembly has revised the constitution based on the leader’s promise, no longer making “reunification” a goal for the country. Analysts believe this move may be part of Kim Jong-un’s survival strategy.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the North Korean military demolished a section of road and railway connecting to South Korea on Tuesday, calling it a legitimate response to defined enemy states in the constitution.
According to the report, as part of a plan to “completely separate its territory from South Korea in stages,” a 60-meter section of road and railway on the North Korean side has now been completely closed off.
The KCNA stated, “This is an inevitable and legal measure taken in accordance with the requirements of the North Korean constitution, which clearly defines South Korea as an enemy state.” The news article used the official names of North Korea, the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” and South Korea, the “Republic of Korea.”
Quoting a spokesperson from the North Korean Ministry of Defense, the KCNA mentioned that the country will take further steps to “permanently strengthen the closed southern border,” but did not specify which other constitutional changes ordered by leader Kim Jong-un were enacted.
A satellite image released by BlackSky showed a large crack on the road leading to the North Korean city of Kaesong taken on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the South Korean military responded to the explosions on roads and railways in North Korea with warning shots fired on the southern side of the border.
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification responsible for relations with the North “strongly condemns” the constitutional changes by the North and the characterization of South Korea as an enemy state, asserting that it won’t waver in its efforts for peaceful reunification.
In January of this year, Kim Jong-un called for amending the constitution to remove the goal of reunification in relations with South Korea, accusing Seoul of colluding with the United States and seeking the collapse of its communist regime, emphasizing territorial delineation in the constitution.
The North Korean highest People’s Assembly held a two-day meeting last week. While speculations surfaced about the revision of the constitution officially defining South Korea as an independent country and primary enemy, North Korean state media did not report such actions, leading to speculation about potential delays in constitutional changes.
Tensions between North and South Korea have escalated since last year, with both sides declaring the 2018 agreement to ease military tensions null and void.
In recent days, North Korea has intensified hostile rhetoric towards South Korea, accusing it of violating its airspace with drones and vowing retaliation.
The South Korean government declined to disclose whether it was its military or civilians operating these drones.
South Korean media reported that leaflets distributed from the direction of South Korea criticized North Korea’s economic situation, including exposing the lavish lifestyle of Kim Jong-un and his family.
The leaflets included titles such as “Kim Jong-un Busy Getting Fatter” and “North Korea’s Economy Heading to Hell,” and compared the income situations of ordinary people in North and South Korea, triggering a strong response from Kim Jong-un.
Yang Moo-jin, the head of a North Korean research university, stated that previously North Korea had delayed releasing summaries of constitutional amendments for a few days, but this time, only one significant change was mentioned briefly, which seems unusual.
He believes that designating South Korea as an enemy state may be Kim Jong-un’s survival strategy, stating, “If there are two enemy states, there is no need for ideological competition between the North and South. By building this wall, North Korea only needs to control its citizens well… From Kim Jong-un’s perspective, he may judge that separation and maintaining an enemy relationship will help North Korea survive and improve its quality of life.”
(This article is referenced from Reuters news agency)