SEOUL, South Korea — May 10, 2026 : North Korea has amended its constitution and nuclear policy framework to require an automatic and immediate nuclear strike if the country’s leadership or nuclear command system is incapacitated by a hostile attack, according to information disclosed by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
The revisions were adopted during the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly held in Pyongyang in March 2026, following growing security concerns inside the North Korean leadership after recent developments in the Middle East.
Under the revised Article 3 of North Korea’s nuclear policy law, a nuclear strike must be launched automatically if the state’s command-and-control structure over nuclear forces is placed in danger by hostile military action. The amendment establishes a formal legal mechanism requiring retaliation even if direct leadership orders cannot be issued.
The updated provisions reaffirm that nuclear command authority remains under North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who serves as president of the State Affairs Commission. The constitution also allows command authority to be transferred to the National Nuclear Forces Command Organization in emergency situations.
Constitutional Changes After Iran Strikes
The constitutional revisions came shortly after the February 28, 2026, U.S.-Israeli military operation known as “Operation Epic Fury,” which targeted Tehran and resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials.
Following the operation, North Korea’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes as an unlawful act of aggression and a violation of national sovereignty. South Korean intelligence officials and regional analysts said the incident increased concerns in Pyongyang over the possibility of a similar leadership-targeting operation against North Korea.
Professor Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University in Seoul stated that North Korea viewed the Iran operation as a major security warning. According to Lankov, the speed and precision of the strikes reinforced concerns within the North Korean leadership regarding modern surveillance and precision-strike capabilities.
Expansion of Nuclear Response Doctrine
The revised constitutional language builds upon North Korea’s September 2022 nuclear forces law, which had already outlined conditions for nuclear weapons use, including retaliation during wartime or against attempts to remove the country’s leadership.
The March 2026 amendments elevate those provisions into constitutional doctrine and formally establish what analysts describe as an automatic retaliatory mechanism, ensuring a nuclear response if the country’s leadership structure is disrupted.
South Korean officials said the revisions are part of North Korea’s broader strategy to reinforce its position that its nuclear weapons status is permanent and irreversible.
Border and Military Policy Changes
In addition to the nuclear doctrine revisions, North Korea approved several other constitutional and military policy changes during the March assembly session.
All references to “peaceful reunification” and “national unity” with South Korea were removed from the constitution, reflecting a policy shift that now formally treats South Korea as a separate and hostile state.
The revised constitution also formally defines North Korea’s territorial borders, effectively recognizing the inter-Korean ceasefire line as a de facto border.
North Korean state media additionally announced the deployment of a new 155-millimeter self-propelled gun-howitzer to frontline artillery units stationed near the border. The artillery system reportedly has an operational range exceeding 37 miles, placing central Seoul and large parts of Gyeonggi province within direct striking distance.
Defense and Nuclear Policy
During the March 2026 Supreme People’s Assembly session, North Korean leadership approved increased defense spending and additional resources for nuclear-related military programs.
North Korea continues to state that its nuclear arsenal is intended for deterrence and defensive purposes against external threats. While the constitutional amendments do not significantly expand the categories under which nuclear weapons may be used, they formally codify an automatic retaliatory launch procedure in the event the country’s nuclear command structure is threatened or disabled.
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