North Korea officially formalizes the split from South Korea: The Workers’ Party has removed “peaceful reunification” from the party’s charter

North Korea has removed references to “peaceful reunification” with South Korea from the charter of the Workers’ Party of Korea, according to the full version of the document published Thursday by Seoul’s Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) and reviewed by Yonhap. The change confirms the redefinition of inter-Korean relations as relations between two hostile states and marks the official abandonment of the idea of a shared national identity. The document includes updates adopted at the party’s ninth congress, held in February, as well as revisions made in June 2024. References to the United States military presence in South Korea and to “external forces” have also been removed from the charter. The new version consolidates Kim Jong-un’s authority. The leader is granted powers regarding the convening of assemblies, the appointment and dismissal of officials, and the dissolution of party departments. The text no longer mentions the achievements of his predecessors, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. The decision follows an order given by Kim in January 2024 to revise the Constitution, after he declared that peaceful reunification was no longer possible. Pyongyang confirmed the constitutional amendments in October 2024.