North Korea scraps references to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, enacts 'Kim Jong Un Constitution'

North Korea has overhauled the foundations of its socialist constitution, which had remained in place for more than 50 years, through a constitutional revision and shifted to a one-man system centered on Kim Jong Un, the country's leader. It also removed most references to former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il from the existing constitution, effectively enacting what amounts to a "Kim Jong Un Constitution."
According to the revised constitution released on the 6th, the phrase "a socialist state of Juche in which the ideas and achievements of state-building by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are embodied," which had appeared in Article 1 of the preamble to the Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, was deleted. The revision was the outcome of the 1st Plenary Meeting of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), held in Pyongyang on March 22-23. The amendment was adopted unanimously.
With this revision, North Korea removed large portions describing Kim Il Sung's achievements, including the clause that identified him as the "founder of socialist Korea." It also deleted the provision that defined the DPRK's socialist constitution as the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il Constitution, which codified the Juche-based state-building ideas and achievements of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. In addition, all related constitutional articles describing their achievements in socialist construction were removed.
By contrast, the powers of Kim Jong Un, the President of the State Affairs Commission, were significantly expanded. In the Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as of 2023, the State Affairs Commission chairman had been described as the "supreme leader," but he is now newly defined as the "head of state." The order of Section 6, which sets out the roles and functions of state organs, was also changed so that the State Affairs Commission was moved ahead from Section 2 to Section 1. This made clear that the State Affairs Commission takes precedence over the SPA, which had appeared in the former Section 1. In effect, the revision underscored Kim's status as the country's highest authority.
In particular, the constitution newly added a clause stating for the first time that the President of the State Affairs Commission holds command authority over nuclear forces and has the power to delegate the use of nuclear weapons to the National Nuclear Forces Command and Control Organization.
Observers say the move strengthens Kim's power base by codifying his command over nuclear forces. The constitution also specifies that key state officials who may be appointed or dismissed by the President of the State Affairs Commission include the SPA chairman and the Premier of North Korea.
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter