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Is North Korea’s constitutional shift a move towards ‘peaceful co-existence’ with South?

North Korea has removed references to “national reunification” from its constitution and newly defined its territory as land bordering South Korea, a move analysts say…

By Samantha Johnson / May 7, 2026
North Korea has removed references to “national reunification” from its constitution and newly defined its territory as land bordering South Korea, a move analysts say may signal Pyongyang’s intent to avoid direct conflict with Seoul.

The constitutional overhaul is widely seen as aligning with the North’s evolving stance towards Seoul – shifting away from reunification and towards a more formalised state-to-state relationship.

Pyongyang took more than two and a half years to revise the constitution after leader Kim Jong-un declared that inter-Korean ties should be redefined as those between “two hostile states” and ordered the change to be codified.

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Accordingly, phrases from the previous constitution that emphasised “independence, peaceful reunification, and great national unity” have been deleted, along with a pledge to “struggle to achieve national reunification”.

References in the preamble to reunification-related achievements of state founder Kim Il-sung and former leader Kim Jong-il were also removed.

A North Korean military guard post and loudspeaker (top right) and South Korean military guard post (bottom) are seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. Photo: AP
A North Korean military guard post and loudspeaker (top right) and South Korean military guard post (bottom) are seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. Photo: AP

Notably, the revised constitution introduces a territorial clause for the first time.

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