North Korea has rewritten its constitution to drop any mention of
reunification with South Korea, cementing leader Kim Jong Un's shift toward
treating Seoul as a permanent adversary.

The updated constitution, introduced in March, was shared this week by South
Korea's Unification Ministry and reported by Yonhap News Agency.

The revision ends a formal commitment to reunification dating back to 1948.

The new text also defines North Korean territory as bordering China and
Russia to the north, and South Korea to the south, using Seoul's official
name.

Kim Jong Un is now designated head of state, with command over the North's
nuclear forces formally vested in his office.

The constitution describes North Korea as a "responsible nuclear weapons
state."

One Seoul National University analyst cited by Yonhap suggested the changes
could form a basis for peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas.

Kim began signaling this shift in late 2023, calling Seoul the "main enemy"
and ordering the demolition of a major reunification monument in Pyongyang.

(PB)