▲ This file photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 31, 2023, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un attending a year-end plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) N Korea-parliamentary meeting

(LEAD) N.K. leader calls for defining S. Korea as 'No. 1 hostile country' in Constitution

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout)

By Kim Soo-yeon

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for revising the country's Constitution to define South Korea as the "No. 1 hostile country" and to codify the commitment to "completely occupying" the South Korean territory in the event of war, state media reported Tuesday.

In a speech delivered at a key parliamentary meeting Monday, Kim called for drawing up legal measures to define South Korea not as a counterpart for reconciliation and unification, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"In the event of war on the Korean Peninsula, it is important to take into account the issue of completely occupying, suppressing, reclaiming the Republic of Korea and subjugating it into the territory of the republic," Kim said, using the full name of South Korea.

He said South Korea should be regarded as "the No. 1 hostile country and invariable principal enemy" in the Constitution.

The meeting came as the North's leader defined relations with South Korea as those between "two states hostile to each other" at a year-end party meeting, saying there is no point in seeking unification with the South.

North Korea has also decided to abolish agencies in charge of inter-Korean affairs at the 10th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the KCNA said.

The bodies in question included the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country of the DPRK, the National Economic Cooperation Bureau and the Kumgangsan International Tourism Administration.

The KCNA said North Korea will dismantle those agencies that have only existed for the purpose of promoting inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation.

The North's Cabinet and related organizations will take "practical" measures to implement the SPA decision.

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