DID Press: North Korea has reportedly amended its constitution and nuclear doctrine to authorize an automatic retaliatory nuclear strike in the event that leader Kim Jong Un is assassinated or the country’s command structure is disabled.
The amendment, approved during the latest session of the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang, is being described by analysts as one of the world’s most aggressive nuclear deterrence policies.
According to international reports and assessments cited by South Korean intelligence authorities, the revised policy states that if North Korea’s nuclear command-and-control system comes under threat from hostile forces, a nuclear counterattack must be launched “automatically and immediately.”
The provision effectively institutionalizes a retaliatory mechanism that would not require direct human authorization once the leadership structure is deemed compromised.
Security analysts believe the policy shift accelerated following recent US and Israeli military operations against Iran, which reportedly heightened Pyongyang’s fears of a potential “decapitation strike” targeting its own leadership.
Experts warn that the new doctrine significantly increases the risk of miscalculation and accidental nuclear escalation, as technical failures or communication disruptions could potentially trigger an unintended launch during periods of heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula.
The development has intensified international concerns over nuclear stability and crisis management in East Asia.