North Korea Enacts Law: Nuclear Strike Automatically Triggered if Top Leader's Life Is Threatened!

Reported by Yonhap News Agency on May 11.

North Korea now has the authority to launch a nuclear strike when its leader's life is under threat, following constitutional revisions.

According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service, the new provision stipulates that nuclear weapons will be automatically deployed if North Korea’s nuclear command and control systems are threatened by "hostile forces."

This means an immediate response can be initiated without further coordination.

These adjustments were made against the backdrop of escalating tensions due to conflicts in the Middle East.

North Korea expects these new measures will help deter other nuclear powers—especially the United States—and ensure regime stability during crises.

According to information provided by South Korea's National Intelligence Service to Parliament, North Korea formally revised its constitution at the first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly in March 2026, explicitly stating that the nuclear strike procedure will be automatically triggered if the country’s top leader is assassinated, loses command capability, or if the national nuclear command and control system comes under attack.

This mechanism is externally known as the “Dead Hand” system, designed to ensure automatic nuclear retaliation even if leadership is decapitated.

The amendment reinforces North Korea’s “nuclear deterrence through nuclear power” strategic principle, shifting nuclear retaliation from human decision-making to a programmed, irreversible automatic response, with the aim of deterring potential “decapitation strikes” by countries like the U.S. and South Korea.

The core logic of the constitutional clause is to guarantee the absolute safety of the supreme leader.

This move is also seen as North Korea’s strategic response to threats faced by leaders in countries such as Iran and Venezuela, aiming to establish a final defense mechanism of mutual destruction.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864838762149900/

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