North Korea backs Iran leader, condemns US-Israeli attack
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- North Korea said it respects Iran's choice to select Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader.
- North Korea condemned the United States and Israel's "unlawful military attack" on Iran, calling it "gangster‑like conduct".
- North Korea expressed grave concern that the attack undermines regional peace, security, and Iran's political system and territorial integrity, urging global condemnation.
- Kim Jong Un oversaw another test‑firing of strategic cruise missiles from the naval destroyer Choe Hyon.
- Kim Jong Un said the missile test supports "maintaining and expanding a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent".
Why it matters: Iran gains a high‑profile ally in North Korea, bolstering its political legitimacy, while the United States and Israel see heightened diplomatic pushback; simultaneously, Kim Jong Un’s missile test underscores North Korea’s commitment to expanding its nuclear deterrent, raising regional security concerns.
