North Korea Supports New Iranian Leader Mojtaba Khamenei
North Korea has issued a response to Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection as Iran’s Supreme Leader, succeeding his father Ayatollah Khamenei, who died in a strike attributed to the United States and Israel on 28 February.
The regime of Kim Jong Un stated that it respected Iran’s choice of new supreme leader. In its statement, North Korea also accused the US and Israel of undermining regional peace.
“We respect the right and choice of the Iranian people to select their supreme leader,” said a spokesman from Pyongyang’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as cited by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
“The United States and Israel have destroyed the foundation of regional peace and security and increased instability throughout the world,” the spokesman added.
The spokesman further accused the US and Israel of violating Iran’s “political system and territorial integrity” and attempting to “overthrow its social system”.
“Such actions deserve criticism and rejection from the entire world as they can never be tolerated,” the official continued.
The US has spent several decades leading efforts to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear programme. However, summit meetings, sanctions, and diplomatic pressure have had little impact.
In recent months, the administration of US President Donald Trump has sought to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang, hoping to arrange a summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un. After largely ignoring such overtures for months, Kim Jong Un recently stated that the two nations could “get along” if Washington accepts Pyongyang’s nuclear status.
Cruise Missile Test
Meanwhile, Pyongyang’s state media also reported on Wednesday that North Korea’s leader oversaw another test firing of a strategic cruise missile from the naval destroyer Choe Hyon. The country conducted a similar missile test from the same vessel the previous week, claiming that it is in the process of “arming the Navy with nuclear weapons”.
“Emphasising the importance of strengthening robust and reliable nuclear war deterrence,” KCNA quoted Kim Jong Un’s directive.