North Korea Revises Constitution for Automatic Nuclear Strike

North Korea has revised its constitution to require an automatic nuclear strike if Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is assassinated or incapacitated during a foreign attack, or if the country's nuclear command-and-control system comes under threat, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service.

The National Intelligence Service briefed senior South Korean officials on the changes, which were approved on March 22 during the first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang. A revised provision in Article 3 of North Korea's nuclear policy law states: "If the command-and-control system over the state's nuclear forces is placed in danger by hostile forces attacks, a nuclear strike shall be launched automatically and immediately." The policy maintains Kim Jong Un's central authority over the nuclear arsenal while ensuring immediate retaliation in specified scenarios.

The update accompanies broader constitutional revisions, including the removal of references to peaceful reunification with South Korea and a reframing of the two Koreas as separate enemy states. These changes emphasize nuclear deterrence as a cornerstone of North Korea's national security strategy...