North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has proposed a constitutional amendment designating South Korea as the "number one hostile state," signaling a significant shift from the regime's longstanding commitment to Korean peninsula unification. Speaking at the supreme people's assembly, North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament, Kim expressed skepticism about the feasibility of unification and accused the South of covertly promoting regime change and unification efforts.
In a further escalation of tensions between the two Koreas, which remain in a truce but not a peace treaty since the 1950-53 war, Kim stated, "We don't want war, but we have no intention of avoiding it." The state-run KCNA news agency announced the closure of three agencies overseeing unification and inter-Korean tourism, namely the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification, the National Economic Cooperation Bureau, and the Mount Kumgang International Tourism Administration.
The assembly decision, as reported by KCNA, emphasized the acute confrontation between the two hostile states on the Korean peninsula, stating, "The reunification of Korea can never be achieved with the Republic of Korea," referring to South Korea.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol swiftly condemned Kim's remarks, labeling Pyongyang as "anti-national" for designating the South as a hostile country. Yoon criticized North Korea's recent missile launch and live-fire exercises near the maritime border, warning of multiplied retaliation for provocations.
Kim's departure from decades of official policy, which aimed for reconciliation and unification, raises concerns among analysts. Some speculate that by designating the South as its primary adversary, North Korea may be laying groundwork to justify the use of nuclear weapons in potential future conflicts.
Kim asserted that a war would lead to the "decimation" of South Korea and an "unimaginable" defeat for its key ally, the US. He hinted at the possibility of reflecting on the complete occupation and incorporation of South Korea into North Korea's territory in the event of war.
The recent deterioration in cross-border ties has heightened concerns, with experts cautioning that the situation on the Korean peninsula is currently more dangerous than at any time since early June 1950, just before the Korean War began. The report suggests that Kim Jong-un might have made a strategic decision to go to war, presenting a risk beyond routine warnings about Pyongyang's provocations.