North Korea has revised its constitution to remove all references to the reunification of the Korean Peninsula and formally define its territory as bordering South Korea, according to a draft text reviewed by Reuters. The change reflects leader Kim Jong Un's declared position that the two Koreas are separate nations, marking a decisive shift in Pyongyang's official stance.

The constitutional amendments, believed to have been adopted during a March meeting of the Supreme People’s Assembly, include the first-ever territorial clause in North Korea’s constitution, specifying its southern boundary as adjacent to South Korea. The move ends decades of official rhetoric centered on eventual reunification under North Korean terms.

Lee Jung-chul, a professor at Seoul National University, disclosed the revision during a briefing at South Korea’s Unification Ministry on May 6, 2026. He said the changes represent a formal legal break from the concept of a single Korean nation, aligning the constitution with Kim Jong Un’s public statements in recent years.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry confirmed it is analyzing the report and assessing the implications for inter-Korean relations. The South Korean government is expected to issue an official response outlining its position on the constitutional changes and their impact on regional stability.