Story perspectives

North Korea Overhauls Constitution, Adds Territory Claim, Cuts Social Guarantees

5/6/2026

Summary

North Korea Revises

North Korea revised its constitution in March at the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, adding a territorial clause.
Article 2 defines DPRK territory as lands bordering China, Russia and the Republic of Korea, plus waters.
The amendment removes unification language, drops the “first enemy” term for South Korea, and deletes related expressions.
Analysts note the constitution deletes references to free medical care, tax exemption and guaranteed employment, reflecting a recession.

Summary

North Korea Plays

North Korea’s women’s national football team announced plans to play its first match in South Korea since 2014.
Pyongyang has repeatedly turned down dialogue proposals from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The constitutional amendment was unveiled at a press conference in South Korea’s Unification Ministry.
Analysts say the sports initiative may create a public-friendly narrative that offsets the new constitution’s confrontational language.

Summary

North Korea Renames

North Korea renamed the charter from the “Socialist Constitution” to the “Constitution” in March.
Professor Lee Jungchul of Seoul National University briefed the Ministry of Unification press corps, noting Articles 3 and 4 of South Korea’s constitution create an interpretive conflict and the Supreme Court has issued divergent rulings.
Lee said the territorial clause could support peaceful coexistence between the Koreas, despite criticism that the policy may conflict with reunification aims.

History

Historical Context

In 1972 the Supreme People’s Assembly, guided by Kim Il-sung and the Workers’ Party of Korea, adopted a 166-article socialist constitution that enshrined Juche and defined the state’s borders. The March 2024 amendment, which removes the unification clause and adds a territorial provision, follows the same pattern of using constitutional revisions to reinforce regime legitimacy and shape inter-Korean relations.

1 of 4

North Korea Revises

North Korea revised its constitution in March at the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, adding a territorial clause.
Article 2 defines DPRK territory as lands bordering China, Russia and the Republic of Korea, plus waters.
The amendment removes unification language, drops the “first enemy” term for South Korea, and deletes related expressions.
Analysts note the constitution deletes references to free medical care, tax exemption and guaranteed employment, reflecting a recession.

1 / 4