Events in Iran and the Korean Peninsula

While South Korea is preoccupied with the safety of its citizens, the impact of the conflict on fuel supplies, and changes in the Seoul-Washington alliance, North Korea has expressed uncompromising political and diplomatic support for Tehran.

The DPRK’s Stance: “A Vicious Bandit-Like Attack!”

However, the author believes that North Korea is closely monitoring the development of the situation. The scenario of American actions in this war resembles the core strategy planned against the DPRK since the beginning of the 21st century. It also points to the general US approach to waging wars with maximum gain and minimal risk.

This refers to a “decapitation strike” with the bet on the air superiority against the country’s top leadership, critical infrastructure, military industry, and military units capable of putting up resistance. Although North Korean defence and the extent to which it is prepared for such attacks surpass those of Iran, it is critically significant for Pyongyang to put this real-world experiment under analysis in order to devise additional measures to strengthen its defensive capabilities.

The South China Morning Post also noted that against the backdrop of the conflict, Iran and North Korea are “quite likely” to resume cooperation in missile and nuclear armaments, based on their shared hostility towards Washington and many years of military partnership.

Pyongyang’s Harsh Rhetoric

On the political and diplomatic level, North Korea has stuck to a firm pro-Iranian stance, mincing no words. On 1st March 2026, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of North Korea referred to the invasion as a “vicious bandit-like attack,” “from start to finish an illegal act of aggression and the most repugnant form of encroachment on sovereignty.” On 11th March, Pyongyang reiterated its “concern over the aggressive actions of the US and Israel, which, by committing an illegal military attack on Iran, are destroying the foundation of peace and security in the region and exacerbating instability on an international scale.” Support was expressed for Iran’s new leader.

The Position of the Republic of Korea: Concern and Evacuation

The standpoint of South Korea in the current situation is characterised by duality. On the one hand, the South Korean government refrained from making direct statements in approval of the invasion. On the other hand, there were no overt attempts to openly condemn the step, including those from left-wing non-governmental organisations.

On 28th February 2026, the Ministry of Foreign........

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