Pyongyang has dropped references to ‘national reunification’ and redefined borders in its revised constitution
3-MIN READ3-MINPark Chan-kyongPublished: 8:00am, 7 May 2026North 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.
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.
Notably, the revised constitution introduces a territorial clause for the first time.
