North Korea Responds to US and Israeli Attack on Iran and Killing of Ayatollah Khamenei

North Korea has issued a strong response to military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The attacks were launched by the two allied nations on Saturday, whilst the announcement of Khamenei’s death came on Sunday.

North Korea condemned the strikes as “illegal acts of aggression”. The administration of President Kim Jong Un claimed that the actions demonstrated the “gangster-like” nature of Washington.

“The military campaign against Iran by these two nations constitutes entirely illegal acts of aggression and the most shameful form of violation of sovereignty,” said a spokesman for North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement released by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), cited by AFP on Monday (2 March 2026).

“Such military actions demonstrate shameless and gangster-like behaviour… abusing military force to satisfy their selfish and hegemonic ambitions,” he added.

North Korea and the United States have been long-standing adversaries, though Washington has intensified efforts to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang in recent months. The US continues to pursue the potential for a summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

In fact, Kim Jong Un had previously ignored such offers for months. However, this week he stated that the two nations could “get along” if Washington accepts Pyongyang’s nuclear status.