In a significant development, North Korea has decided to dismantle agencies responsible for handling inter-Korean affairs, declaring South Korea as the "No. 1 hostile country" in its Constitution, as reported by state media on Tuesday. The decision was reached during the 10th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly held in Pyongyang on Monday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The affected bodies include the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, the National Economic Cooperation Bureau, and the Kumgangsan International Tourism Administration, which were established to facilitate inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation.
During the meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for the formulation of legal measures to explicitly designate South Korea as an entity not eligible for reconciliation and unification. Kim expressed the opinion that the North Korean constitution should outline the possibility of occupying and annexing South Korea in the event of a war on the Korean Peninsula.
He urged the strengthening of educational programs to instill in North Koreans the idea that South Korea is their primary adversary and an unwavering principal enemy. Additionally, Kim ordered measures to eliminate symbols of inter-Korean reconciliation, emphasizing the need to block all communication channels along the border, including physically cutting off railway tracks.
Kim also called for the dismantling of the Monument to the Three Charters for National Reunification, a structure built in 2001 in Pyongyang to commemorate late founder Kim Il-sung's vision for a federation system-based unification.
Despite expressing a reluctance to initiate armed conflict unilaterally, Kim reiterated North Korea's preparedness for war, particularly regarding territorial violations. He asserted that any infringement, even by 0.001 millimeters, of North Korea's land, air, and waters by South Korea would be considered a provocative act.
North Korea has consistently contested the Northern Limit Line (NLL), an unrecognized boundary drawn by the US-led UN Command after the 1950-53 Korean War, insisting on its relocation farther south. The latest developments signal a significant shift in North Korea's stance towards its southern neighbor.
(With Agency Inputs)
