North Korea has expressed support for the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader, while condemning the “illegal” military strike by the United States and Israel that killed Iran’s previous leader. A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday that Pyongyang respects Tehran’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ali Khamenei.
Citing KCNA, Al Jazeera said, “Regarding the recent official announcement that the Iranian Assembly of Experts has elected a new leader of the Islamic Revolution, we respect the right and choice of the Iranian people to elect their supreme leader.” The spokesman also criticized the US and Israel for illegally attacking Iran. “We express grave concern and strongly condemn the aggression of the United States and Israel, which are undermining the foundations of regional peace and security and increasing instability in the international arena by launching an unlawful military attack against Iran,” the spokesperson said.The statement said such actions undermine “the country’s political system and territorial integrity”, which is unacceptable and “must be condemned and rejected by the entire world.” The conflict began after a US-Israeli attack on February 28 that killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, triggering a war in the region. North Korea had previously criticized the attack as “gangster-like conduct”.Separately, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed another test of strategic cruise missiles from the country’s newest destroyer, the Choe Hyon destroyer. During the launch, Kim talked about the need to maintain and expand the nuclear deterrent. Al Jazeera said he referred to the strategic task of “maintaining and expanding a powerful and credible nuclear war deterrent.” The test marks the second missile launch from a destroyer under the supervision of Kim, who recently praised a move to equip the country’s navy with nuclear weapons.The United States has long sought to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program, while Pyongyang has argued that its weapons are necessary to deter potential threats from South Korea and its allies in Washington. However, in recent months, the administration of US President Donald Trump has signaled a willingness to revive high-level talks with North Korea, while Kim has suggested the two countries “could get along” if Washington recognized Pyongyang’s nuclear power status.