North Korea drops references to unification with South from constitution, Seoul says

North Korea has removed all references to reunification with the South from its constitution, according to a document seen by the AFP news agency on Wednesday, underscoring Pyongyang's push for a more hostile policy towards Seoul.

A clause stating that North Korea aimed "to realise the unification of the motherland" no longer appears in the latest version of the constitution, which was shared at a news conference held at South Korea's Unification Ministry.

The development comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labelled Seoul as the "most hostile state" in a policy address in March.

The revised constitution, which the document indicated was introduced in March, also includes a new clause delineating North Korea's territory.

Using South Korea's official name, it says that includes the area bordering China and Russia to the north, "and the Republic of Korea to the south."

People walk in the street of the Central District of Pyongyang, 25 December, 2025 (People walk in the street of the Central District of Pyongyang, 25 December, 2025)

North Korea "absolutely does not allow any infringement on its territory," it added.

South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung has called for talks with the North without any preconditions, saying the countries are destined "to make the flowers of peace bloom."

But the North has not responded to the Lee administration's overtures and has repeatedly called the South its "most hostile" adversary.

Kim has vowed to boost his nuclear forces and Pyongyang conducted four missile tests in April, the most in a single month for more than two years.

The South’s unification ministry said in April that the North Korean economy was showing signs of recovery as Pyongyang deepens trade and diplomatic ties with Russia and traditional ally China.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, 13 April, 2026 (South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, 13 April, 2026)

China has long been the diplomatically isolated country's main economic backer, though Pyongyang has also drawn closer to Moscow since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Pyongyang and Moscow inked a defence treaty in 2024 that calls for military support in the case of either country being attacked.

That year, the North sent thousands of troops to Russia to support its war on Ukraine. They were deployed to the western Kursk region to held fend off a months-long counter-offensive by Kyiv's forces.

Several senior Russian officials have also visited North Korea recently.