NIS: "North Clarifies Two Hostile States Theory... Hostility Reduced"

Although North Korea recently codified the so-called "two hostile states doctrine" through a constitutional amendment, it has significantly reduced its hostility toward South Korea. In addition, the status of Chairman Kim Jong Un has been greatly strengthened by defining the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission as the head of state and delegating the authority to use nuclear weapons to him.

The National Intelligence Service reported this at a plenary meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee held that afternoon, according to Park Sunwon, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Sungkwon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, who serve as the committee's ruling and opposition secretaries.

Yonhap News Agency

The National Intelligence Service first assessed that while North Korea had clearly formalized the doctrine of two hostile states, the use of hostile language toward South Korea had been significantly reduced. The National Intelligence Service stated, "The North Korean regime broadly defined its territory, and while there was language stating that it would not tolerate any infringement on areas bordering China, Russia, and South Korea, there was no hostile language specifically targeting the South." The agency added, "Although the two-state policy was made explicit, overall hostility has been considerably reduced."

The National Intelligence Service also evaluated that this amended constitution has solidified Kim Jong Un's one-man leadership system. The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission was defined as the 'head of state' instead of 'supreme leader,' and for the first time, this position was placed ahead of the Supreme People's Assembly in the constitutional hierarchy. In particular, the roles of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il have been greatly diminished, as references to their achievements in nation-building and unification have been removed from the constitution.

The National Intelligence Service stated, "Various checks and balances on the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission have been removed, and the authority to use nuclear weapons has been delegated to the Chairman." The agency continued, "The authority to appoint key officials now also includes the Chair of the Supreme People's Assembly and the Premier of the Cabinet. This has further strengthened one-man rule."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.