North Korea on Wednesday publicly declared its support for the Iranian people’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, following the death of his father in the initial wave of military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. The announcement was reported by North Korea’s state-run media and marks one of the strongest international endorsements of Iran’s new leadership since the attacks that dramatically reshaped the country’s political landscape.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s foreign ministry stated that it fully respects the Iranian people’s choice and views the leadership transition as a sovereign decision made in response to extraordinary circumstances. Mojtaba Khamenei was named Supreme Leader on Monday after his father was killed during the first stage of coordinated strikes targeting key sites across Iran, an event that has intensified geopolitical tensions and drawn sharp reactions from several governments.
Pyongyang also used the statement to strongly condemn the United States and Israel, accusing both countries of carrying out “illegal acts of aggression” against Iran. The foreign ministry said the attacks threaten global peace and contribute to growing instability across multiple regions, warning that such actions could further escalate conflicts beyond the Middle East.
North Korea’s criticism reflects its long-standing opposition to U.S. military interventions and its historically close political alignment with governments that challenge Western influence. By openly supporting Iran’s new leadership and denouncing the strikes, Pyongyang signaled its intention to stand firmly with Tehran at a moment when the country faces both internal transition and external military pressure.
