North Korea criticizes U.S. sanctions against Iran

The UN Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including Iran's recent attack against Israel, at the UN headquarters in New York City on April 14, 2024. [AFP/YONHAP]

North Korea declared its support of Iran through state media on Tuesday as it criticized the latest round of U.S. sanctions against Tehran.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday criticized the United States for recently announcing a series of sanctions targeting Iran's production of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Iran launched an attack on Israel on April 13 in retaliation after Israel bombed an Iranian embassy in Syria. In response, the United States imposed sanctions on people and companies related to Iran’s drone, steel and automobile industries.

The KCNA said that Iran’s military action was “resulting from Israel’s reckless military attacks in its drive to realize its territorial expansion ambitions,” and that the United States “misled the facts as if Iran was responsible for the deterioration of the regional situation and has imposed unfair sanctions.”

“The United States’ reckless behavior is a violent, illegal and inhumane act that infringes on Iran’s sovereignty,” the KCNA continued. “Nothing can break Iran’s armed forces and the people’s will to protect the country’s sovereignty and dignity.”

The KCNA statement comes after North Korea sent a delegation to Iran last Tuesday, considered by most as an unusual move by Pyongyang. As both countries have been closely cooperating with Russia regarding military equipment and arms deals, the North Korean delegation’s trip to Iran could signal deepening military cooperation.

Previously, in 2019, Pak Chol-min, then vice chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly, visited Iran to discuss cooperation.

The latest dispatch of a North Korean delegation to Iran may carry a new significance, given the two countries' active support for Russia in the war in Ukraine.

As Pyongyang and Tehran are suspected of providing weapons to Russia, there is speculation that last week's visit will serve as an opportunity to deepen not only economic ties, but also military cooperation centered on support for Russia.

The international community is also watching for the possibility of direct military cooperation between North Korea and Iran beyond support for Russia.

Iran’s recent attack on Israel has raised speculation that North Korean parts or military technology were used.

North Korea is also suspected of buying the unmanned attack drone “Shahed-136” which was made by Iran and widely used by Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency further reported in 2019 that Iran’s main medium-range ballistic missile, “Shahab-3,” was developed based on North Korea’s midrange Rodong missiles. The Khorramshahr missile developed by Iran is also believed to be technically linked to North Korea’s Musudan missiles.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]