Pyongyang: North Korea has for the first time publicly acknowledged Iran’s election of new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei while maintaining silence on the death of his predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during last week’s US and Israeli attacks.
The reference to the new leader — without naming him — appeared in a DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s statement. The spokesperson condemned Washington and Tel Aviv for their “intervention into the internal affairs of Iran over the recent election.” State-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported this on Wednesday.
Iranian state media reported on March 1 the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, one of Pyongyang’s important international partners, confirming US-Israeli claims a day earlier.
“We express serious concern over and strongly denounce the acts of aggression by the U.S. and Israel that a
re destroying the regional peace and security foundations, and escalating instability worldwide by mounting illegal military attacks on Iran,” the spokesperson said Tuesday (KCNA).
The spokesperson called on the world to reject “any rhetorical threats and military action” that violates Iran’s territorial integrity and seeks to “overthrow its social system.”
Pyongyang highlighted the US-Israel strikes but ignored Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US facilities and regional sites. The Foreign Ministry earlier called the strikes a “war of aggression,” again omitting Iran’s response.
“With regard to the recent official announcement that Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected the new leader of the Islamic Revolution, we respect the rights and choice of the Iranian people to elect their supreme leader,” the spokesperson said Tuesday (KCNA).
North Korea’s omission of Ali Khamenei’s death fits its pattern. It avoids publicizing leader removals in friendly states, even via KCNA. State media skipped the US capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in early January. It also ignored Syria’s Bashar al-Assad ouster in December 2024.
Pyongyang selectively condemns foes while downplaying allies’ actions in global reports. This stance underscores its ties with Tehran amid rising tensions.