PYONGYANG — Breaking his silence on the escalating Middle East crisis, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued a scathing condemnation of the United States and Israel, describing their recent military operations against Iran as “shameless and illegal aggression.” In a fiery address to military personnel, Kim warned that while the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) does not seek war, it has “no intention of avoiding it” should its sovereignty be challenged.
The statement follows the February 28 strikes that triggered the ongoing regional war and marks a significant hardening of Pyongyang’s rhetoric toward the Trump administration.
North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemns the US and Israel’s ‘unlawful military attack against Iran’. https://t.co/kIUFuhnU88
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 11, 2026
A “Despicable” Violation of Sovereignty
In remarks carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un framed the strikes on Tehran as a definitive example of Western “hegemonic ambition.”
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Illegal Aggression: Kim characterized the U.S.-Israeli campaign as a “most despicable violation” of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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The “Jungle Law”: He argued that the world currently operates on “gangster-style logic,” where international law is secondary to raw power. Kim claimed that the “present cruel geopolitical situation” proves that only nations with overwhelming military strength can survive.
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Solidarity with Tehran: Pyongyang officially endorsed the transition of power in Iran, respecting the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader and rejecting what it called “shameless maneuvers” by Washington to interfere in Iranian domestic affairs.
Nuclear Deterrence as a “Safety Device”
Analysts note that Kim is using the Middle East conflict to validate his own nuclear and missile programs.
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Lesson from Iran: Pyongyang’s rhetoric suggests that the strikes on Iran occurred specifically because Tehran lacked a sufficient nuclear deterrent—a mistake Kim does not intend to replicate.
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Expanding the Arsenal: Coinciding with the statement, Kim oversaw the second successful test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from the Choe Hyon, a new 5,000-tonne destroyer. He described the expansion of the “nuclear war deterrent” as a “strategic task” that is making “satisfactory progress.”
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Shift in Diplomatic Posture
The escalation of rhetoric signals a potential pivot away from the diplomatic openings suggested during the Ninth Party Congress in February.
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Distrust of Washington: The strikes on a long-standing partner like Iran have reinforced North Korea’s deep-seated mistrust of U.S. “strength-based peace” initiatives.
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Ready for Confrontation: “Strength respects strength,” Kim declared, asserting that North Korea is prepared to confront any “rogue act” with its own strategic capabilities.
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