N. Korean Constitution Amended to Empower Military

The North Korean Constitution was amended in April to promote its “songun (military first)” policy and name Kim Jong Il leader, the South Korean government said yesterday.

The amendment says the chairman of the North’s National Defense Commission, Kim, and the commission comprise the country’s supreme governing body.

Article 3 of the Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea says, “The nation adopts the ideology of juche (self-reliance) and an elite military as the guiding principle for activities.”

This clause replaces the Marx-Lenin ideology adopted in 1992 with the addition of the elite military ideology.

With the removal of the Marx-Lenin ideology reference, the term “communism” was also deleted.

The elite military ideology was first adopted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 1995. This was the first time, however, that it was specified in the North Korean Constitution.

kyle@donga.com