Read The Diplomat, Know The Asia-Pacific
A quiet revision to Chongryon’s platform carries significant implications for Tokyo.
In this photo from North Korean state media, Kim Jong Un delivers an address at the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, Mar. 23, 2026.
South Korea’s outsized ability to shape international narratives is well illustrated by the world’s enthusiasm for K-pop. Korean media is also influential, and Japanese outlets have sometimes run Korean-sourced reporting on North Korea without independent verification, often at the expense of a distinctly Japanese perspective.
The recent revisions to the North Korean constitution offer a case in point. North Korea overhauled its constitution at the end of March, including a change in the constitution’s official title. The full text has not been released by North Korean media, but a copy obtained by the South Korean government in early May has been widely circulated. The changes appear to reflect recent shifts in Pyongyang’s tone and can be regarded as authentic.
