North Korea Abandons Reunification: The End of the Korean Peninsula’s “One Korea”?

Wang Yi’s “Two Countries” Remarks Prompt South Korean Media Pushback

During a joint appearance with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Beijing hopes to see South Korea and North Korea “gradually move toward the path of peaceful coexistence and ultimately achieve lasting peace and stability on the peninsula,” according to The Chosun Ilbo. The phrasing marked a notable acknowledgment of two distinct states on the Korean Peninsula.

In an August 22 editorial, The Chosun Ilbo responded by questioning whether South Korea could similarly adopt a “two countries” framework regarding China and Taiwan. The newspaper argued that while Beijing expects Seoul to respect China’s pursuit of unification, China routinely penalizes nations and political figures that show goodwill toward Taiwan. The editorial suggested that if Beijing views the Korean Peninsula as housing two separate nations, it should apply the same logic to cross-strait relations.

North Korea Rewrites Constitution to Drop Unification Goals

The diplomatic pivot follows a massive ideological shift in Pyongyang. On December 26, 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared at a plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea that inter-Korean ties were no longer relations between compatriots, but rather “completely fixed as hostile relations between two countries that are at war,” according to transcripts cited by The Chosun Ilbo. North Korea subsequently severed rail and road links with the South and detonated connecting infrastructure.

By March 2026, North Korea finalized a constitutional revision that completely removed references to “祖國統一” (fatherland unification) and “民族大團結” (national great unity) from its preamble. According to analysis by Lee Sang-yong, director of investigations and analysis for the North Korea-focused media outlet Daily NK, the constitutional changes added a territorial clause defining the nation’s borders with China, Russia, and South Korea. Lee told reporters that Pyongyang is intentionally erasing the “specialness” of inter-Korean relations to prevent its citizens from learning about the prosperity and freedom found in South Korea.

Historical Context of Inter-Korean Engagement and Friction

The breakdown of inter-Korean dialogue contrasts sharply with past eras of engagement. In 1997, progressive leader Kim Dae-jung won the South Korean presidency and initiated the “Sunshine Policy,” holding a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000 and earning the Nobel Peace Prize. That framework of reconciliation was continued by successor Roh Moo-hyun and later revived by President Moon Jae-in in 2017, who brokered unprecedented talks between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore and Vietnam.

However, under conservative administrations such as those of Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and Yoon Suk Yeol, relations deteriorated amid military provocations and political stagnation. Although current South Korean President Lee Jae-min attempted to ease tensions by dismantling cross-border loudspeaker broadcasts during his first year in office, Pyongyang has largely met these overtures with skepticism and verbal attacks.

Internal Control and Media Evolution in Pyongyang

Scholars emphasize that North Korea's hardline turn is primarily an internal defensive measure. Nevertheless, the leadership views ideological isolation as essential to survival.

This policy shift is visibly reflected in North Korean state media. As observed by regional analysts, the Korean Central Television weather forecast abruptly changed its opening animation in January 2024. Previously, the graphic displayed both North and South Korea in a unified color with a single red dot on Pyongyang; it now exclusively highlights the northern half of the peninsula. Furthermore, state outlets such as the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Rodong Sinmun transitioned from calling the South “南朝鮮” (South Chosun) to using “大韓民國” (the Republic of Korea), signaling a formal acknowledgment of a separate, foreign state across the border.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did North Korea drop unification from its constitution?

According to experts like Daily NK director Lee Sang-yong, North Korea removed unification references to insulate its citizens from outside information, fearing that exposure to South Korea’s higher standard of living would undermine regime loyalty.

How has North Korean state media referred to South Korea recently?

After decades of using terms like “南朝鮮” (South Chosun) to deny Seoul sovereign legitimacy, North Korean state media outlets such as KCNA and the Rodong Sinmun began utilizing the formal name “大韓民國” (Republic of Korea).

What was the significance of Wang Yi’s visit to Seoul in August 2026?

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Seoul for the first time in five years, where he met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and President Lee Jae-min, publicly describing North and South Korea as “two countries.”