Kim Jong Un Orders Constitutional Changes: North Korea Set To Remove Unification Clauses In Key Parliamentary Session

North Korea is gearing up for a crucial parliamentary session on Monday, where it plans to amend its constitution by removing clauses related to unification and clarifying territorial boundaries, including the maritime border. This session comes in response to Kim Jong-un’s directive for these changes.

What Happened: The 11th session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) is occurring approximately nine months after Kim labeled South Korea as North Korea’s “invariable principal enemy,” Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday. The outcomes of this session are anticipated to be disclosed the following day.

In December, Kim described inter-Korean relations as hostile, dismissing reconciliation efforts. The SPA meeting may last at least two days, with potential amendments to remove unification references and codify territorial claims. South Korea’s unification ministry noted that North Korea might ambiguously define the maritime border, potentially leading to provocations.

Experts suggest North Korea could declare a new maritime boundary south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL). Additionally, the SPA might ratify a new partnership treaty with Russia, including a mutual defense clause, following a summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June.

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Why It Matters: The potential constitutional changes in North Korea come amid heightened tensions in the region. Recently, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol suggested that Kim Jong-un’s nuclear threats are strategic moves to gain U.S. attention ahead of the presidential election. Yoon anticipates major provocations from North Korea, including nuclear tests and long-range missile launches, as he prepares to emphasize the importance of North Korea's nuclear disarmament at upcoming ASEAN-related gatherings.

Furthermore, internal discontent within North Korea is becoming more apparent. The recent defection of a North Korean soldier to the South underscores the growing dissatisfaction within the country, despite Kim Jong-un’s efforts to tighten border security. This increase in defections, especially from North Korea's protected classes, indicates potential instability within Kim's regime.

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Image via Flickr/ Prachatai

This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari