North Korea backs Iran’s new supreme leader amid U.S.-Israel attacks
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North Korea says it respects Iran’s election of new supreme leader – The foreign ministry spokesperson said they respect the rights and choice of the Iranian people after the Assembly of Experts appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the new supreme leader on Sunday [1].
Pyongyang condemns U.S.-Israel military strike on Iran as illegal – The spokesperson denounced the attacks as an illegal act that threatens regional peace and escalates global instability, expressing serious concern over the aggression [1].
Earlier on March 1, North Korea labeled the strikes “gangster‑like conduct” – In a separate statement, Pyongyang criticized the U.S.-Israeli actions without directly naming President Donald Trump, reinforcing its opposition to the attacks [1].
Iran’s new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed by the Assembly of Experts – The Assembly, a body of senior clerics, selected him to succeed his father following the latter’s death in the recent U.S.-Israeli attacks on Tehran [1].
North Korea and Iran maintain long‑standing ties despite sanctions – Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1973, the two countries have cooperated on weapons programs and have jointly supplied arms to Russia in its war against Ukraine [1].
The announcement was reported by Yonhap citing KCNA – The Korean Central News Agency provided the spokesperson’s remarks, and Yonhap published the story on March 11, 2026 [1].
- North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson – “We respect the rights and choice of the Iranian people to elect their supreme leader” and “We express serious concern over and strongly denounce the acts of aggression by the U.S. and Israel… an illegal military attack on Iran.”
- North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson (March 1 statement) – Described the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as “gangster‑like conduct.”