Pyongyang has expressed support for Iran’s selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader, condemning the United States and Israel for undermining regional stability. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions following the death of longtime Iranian ruler Ali Khamenei, reportedly in an Israeli airstrike on February 28.
“We respect the rights and choice of the Iranian people to elect their supreme leader,” an unnamed North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson told the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The official accused Washington and Tel Aviv of violating Iran’s sovereignty and attempting to destabilize its political system, actions described as “deserving worldwide criticism and rejection.”
Pyongyang, a longstanding adversary of the United States, has previously labeled the US-Israeli strike on Iran an “illegal act of aggression.” Relations between North Korea and Washington remain tense, with past diplomatic efforts—including sanctions, summits, and negotiations—yielding little progress on Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
The statements coincided with North Korea’s latest missile test. KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of strategic cruise missiles from the naval Choe Hyon destroyer, accompanied by his teenage daughter, Ju Ae, who is widely regarded as his heir apparent. Kim emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s nuclear deterrent, noting “important successes” in deploying strategic and tactical strike capabilities.
South Korea’s intelligence agency suggests North Korea is preparing Ju Ae for future leadership. The missile test comes as Washington and Seoul conduct their spring military drills, “Freedom Shield,” prompting Pyongyang to warn of “unimaginably terrible consequences.”
The Choe Hyon, one of two 5,000-ton destroyers launched last year, underscores Kim’s push to expand naval capabilities with nuclear-capable short-range missiles. Experts say North Korea is seeking both legitimacy and justification for bolstering its war deterrence amid escalating regional tensions.
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