North Korea party rule revisions bolster Kim Jong Un's control

• North Korea's ruling Workers' Party charter has been revised, removing references to peaceful unification with South Korea.
• The revisions reflect Pyongyang's new stance defining inter-Korean relations as between 'two hostile' states.
• The updated charter strengthens the authority of leader Kim Jong-un, cementing his position as the party's sole leader.
• References to the achievements of predecessors Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il were removed.
• The charter now details the powers of the WPK's general secretary, including appointment and dismissal of officials.

North Korea has revised the charter of its ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), removing all references to "peaceful unification" with South Korea. This change aligns with Pyongyang's recent redefinition of inter-Korean relations as those between "two hostile" states, rather than a unified nation.

The full text of the revised charter, released by Seoul's Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), is the first public disclosure of the document. South Korean intelligence had previously indicated revisions were made in June 2024 to reflect the North's new stance.

The updated rules significantly strengthen the authority of current leader Kim Jong-un, consolidating his position as the party's sole and unchallenged leader. Notably, references to the past achievements of his predecessors, the late state founder Kim Il-sung and his father Kim Jong-il, have been removed.

Further changes in the charter include detailed provisions on the powers of the WPK's general secretary, such as convening meetings and appointing or dismissing officials. A new clause permits the party to bypass internal elections during wartime, and the minimum age for party membership has been raised from 18 to 20.

These revisions are seen as part of Pyongyang's effort to transition into a "Kim Jong-un Era 2.0," marking his nearly 15 years in power and solidifying his control over state and military affairs.