North Korean students trying on new uniforms in April 2015. Documents acquired by a South Korean news service indicate Kim Jong Un made significant changes to North Korea’s education curriculum after assuming power. File Photo by Rodong Sinmun

SEOUL, May 27 (UPI) -- Kim Jong Un reformed the country's education code, according to North Korean documents from 2013 acquired by a South Korean news service.

Pyongyang's reform of 12-year compulsory education shows evidence of Kim's willingness to change the system, but most likely to consolidate his authoritarian rule, Newsis reported.


Kim came to power in 2012, immediately after the death of his father Kim Jong Il in December 2011.

The new North Korean curriculum emphasizes science and technology, and also English.

English as a second language is mandatory starting from the North Korean equivalent of the fourth grade until the twelfth grade, or the final year of compulsory schooling.

Across eight years, students are expected to complete 787 hours of English language studies that include listening, speaking writing, reading and grammar, according to the report.

Cho Jung-ah, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a Seoul government think tank, said in North Korea all schools must follow the education platform that's put forward by Kim.

The reorganization signifies the succession of Kim Jong Un to the highest position of power, Cho said.

Another interesting change, Cho said, is that the word "English" is actually used in the North Korean document, rather than "foreign language" as was the case in the past.

"[North Korean] textbooks have also become more sophisticated, in terms of content, than in the past," the South Korean researcher said.

Other changes show that elementary schooling has expanded by one year, and junior high and high school divisions have been created, according to the report.