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North Korea declares itself nuclear state in new constitution

North Korea declares itself nuclear state in new constitution

Posted May. 31, 2012 04:05,   

한국어

North Korea is known to have officially declared itself a nuclear state in a constitutional revision made last month.

The amendment also replaced an article on the post of chairman of the National Defense Commission that had been held by the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il with one on the new position of first chairman for his son and successor Kim Jong Un.

The Stalinist country on Wednesday released the full text of its constitution for the first time on the North`s propaganda website "Naenara (My Nation)." Pyongyang said its Supreme People`s Assembly amended the constitution April 13.

The preface of the revised constitution begins with the sentence, "The Democratic People`s Republic of Korea is a self-reliant socialist state that has realized the ideas and leadership of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il."

Kim Jong Il did not appear in the first sentence of the preface of the previous constitution revised in April 2010.

While praising the achievements of Kim Jong Il, the North declared itself a nuclear power in the preface, saying, "(Kim Jong Il) transformed our country into an invincible state of political thought and nuclear and military power."

The authority and roles under the article on the National Defense Commission chairmanship were described in articles 100 to 105 of the previous constitution. The position was replaced with that of first chairman, however, reflecting the decision of the North Korean parliament.

The legislature also named Kim Jong Il "eternal chairman" of the National Defense Commission and Kim Jong Un as first chairman.

After the death of Vice Marshal Cho Myong Rok, the commission`s post of first vice chairman disappeared apparently to prevent confusion with the title of first chairman and prevent power from being concentrated in certain figures, experts said.

If standard practices in the North had been followed, Choe Ryong Hae, director of the general political bureau of the North Korean People`s Army, would have been appointed first vice chairman of the commission.



shcho@donga.com