Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced that a North Korean delegation, led by External Economic Relations Minister Yun Jong-ho, departed for Iran on Tuesday. This marks a rare high-level visit by a North Korean official to the Middle Eastern country, the last one being in 2019. The two countries, both under international sanctions, have maintained friendly relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1973. Analyst Lee Il-woo expressed concerns that Tehran may seek North Korea’s assistance in developing nuclear weapons, given the timing of the visit and Iran’s recent warning to Israel. However, Park Won-ho of Ewha Womans University believes North Korea is unlikely to engage in nuclear proliferation with Iran due to the risk of severe military retaliation. The US has long accused Iran and North Korea of military cooperation, particularly in the missile and nuclear fields. These allegations have resurfaced amidst ongoing military exercises conducted by the US and South Korea, which North Korea views as threats to regional security. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised recent missile launches, claiming they demonstrate the country’s nuclear counter-attack capabilities.
North Korea’s Delegation Visits Iran, Raising Concerns over Military Cooperation
