In a strongly-worded statement, North Korea is heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula by issuing threats to occupy South Korea in the event of a war. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has directed the removal of expressions such as "peaceful unification and grand national integration" from the Constitution. Instead, he emphasized the necessity of officially designating the South as the "primary foe." Kim was quoted on Tuesday by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), stating, "The republic will firmly retaliate against our enemies by mobilizing all available military forces, including nuclear weapons."

In a speech at the 10th session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) held on Monday, Kim even vowed to abolish existing inter-Korean agreements and relevant monuments and facilities. He also defined the South as an invariable warring enemy, signifying a total turnaround in inter-Korean relations. Kim’s statement is regrettable as it rejects all hitherto efforts designed to boost reunification and peace in Northeast........

© The Korea Times