North Korea Changes the Name of the 'Aegukga' It Has Used Until Now
North Korea's Korean Central TV rebroadcast the completion ceremony of the second phase of the Pyongyang Hwaseong District held on the 16th on the 18th, changing the subtitle of the "Aegukga" to "National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (above). The first broadcast on the 17th had the subtitle "Aegukga" (below). [Korean Central TV screen] [Image source=Yonhap News]
North Korea, which has declared itself to be in a 'hostile belligerent state' relationship with South Korea, appears to have changed the name of its national anthem from the existing 'Aegukka' to 'National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.'
On the 18th, Korean Central TV rebroadcast a scene of singer Kim Ryugyong singing the national anthem at the completion ceremony of the second phase of the Hwaseong District in Pyongyang held on the 16th, displaying subtitles that changed from 'Aegukka' to 'National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.'
During the first broadcast the previous day, the subtitle was labeled as 'Aegukka,' but it was changed within a day.
According to Article 171 of North Korea's Socialist Constitution, "The national anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is 'Aegukka.'"
There have been no reports indicating that North Korea has amended the constitution at the Supreme People's Assembly to redefine the name of the national anthem.
Therefore, it is possible that North Korea decided not to use the name 'Aegukka' before amending the constitution.
Since South Korea's national anthem is also called 'Aegukka,' this move is interpreted as an attempt to differentiate itself. North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un has distanced himself from South Korea this year, defining inter-Korean relations as 'hostile, belligerent relations between two states.'
In particular, since February, North Korea has also changed the lyrics of its national anthem from the original "My beautiful homeland of three thousand ri" to "My beautiful homeland of this world." It is analyzed that the term 'three thousand ri,' which refers to the Korean Peninsula including both North and South Korea, was modified.
On the 16th, at the completion ceremony of the 10,000-unit residential housing in Phase 2 of the Hwaseong District in Pyongyang attended by Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, singer Kim Ryugyong (center) is singing the North Korean national anthem, which has been changed from "Samcheonli Areumdaun Nae Joguk" to "I Sesang Areumdaun Nae Joguk." [Chosun Central TV screen] [Image source=Yonhap News]
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