North Korea has entered the global conversation surrounding Iran’s dramatic leadership transition, voicing unequivocal support for the Iranian people’s right to choose their own leader while fiercely condemning recent military interventions by the United States and Israel. The statement, issued through North Korea’s Foreign Ministry on March 10 and reiterated in a press Q&A on March 11, comes in the wake of Mojtaba Khamenei’s official election as Iran’s third Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli airstrike on March 8, 2026.
The succession marks a pivotal moment for Iran and its allies, with reverberations echoing across the Middle East and beyond. According to KBS and Chosun Ilbo, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson declared, “We respect the Iranian people’s right and choice to elect their Supreme Leader,” highlighting Pyongyang’s alignment with Tehran at a time of heightened international scrutiny and tension.
The Assembly of Experts, Iran’s constitutional body of 88 members, moved swiftly after the elder Khamenei’s death, officially selecting Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader on March 8. Mojtaba, long considered a hardliner with close ties to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), now assumes the helm of the Islamic Republic at a time of deep uncertainty. The IRGC, for its part, wasted no time in pledging allegiance to Mojtaba, reinforcing the perception—reported by Chosun Ilbo—that the new leader is unlikely to usher in dramatic change.
North Korea’s response was as much about denouncing outside interference as it was about supporting Iran’s internal processes. In its March 10 statement, Pyongyang lambasted the US and Israel, saying, “We express serious concern and strongly condemn the illegal military attacks by the United States and Israel, which undermine regional peace and security and increase global instability.” The statement went further, warning that “any form of rhetorical threats or military actions infringing on a country’s political system and territorial integrity are unacceptable and must be condemned worldwide.”
This wasn’t North Korea’s first public reaction to the US-Israel airstrikes. On March 1, just one day after the initial attacks, Pyongyang issued a fiery condemnation, labeling the strikes as “illegal and the worst form of sovereignty violation.” Notably, while North Korea’s criticism was severe, it stopped short of directly naming then-US President Donald Trump—a detail reported by both KBS and Chosun Ilbo.
Iran’s relationship with North Korea is unique in the region. With the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran has become Pyongyang’s closest Middle Eastern ally. This alliance, forged in mutual opposition to US influence and reinforced by years of political and military cooperation, has taken on renewed significance amid the current crisis. As Chosun Ilbo notes, Iran is now “almost the only remaining North Korean ally in the Middle East.”
While North Korea and Iran have presented a united front, the international response to Mojtaba Khamenei’s ascension has been far from unanimous. The United States and Israel, in particular, have voiced strong opposition, viewing the succession as a continuation of Iran’s existing hardline policies. President Trump, according to Chosun Ilbo, expressed his disappointment, stating, “We are disappointed because we believe that choice will only deepen the same problems in Iran.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry was even more blunt, calling Mojtaba “a tyrant who will continue the regime’s brutality,” and reiterating its intention to pursue ‘decapitation operations’ against Iranian leadership regardless of who is in power.
Inside Iran, however, the mood—at least as portrayed by state media—has been one of celebration. Iranian state TV aired footage of citizens in Tehran rejoicing over Mojtaba’s election, underscoring the government’s efforts to frame the transition as a triumph of national unity and resilience. The IRGC’s public oath of loyalty further cemented the sense that, despite external pressure, the core of the Iranian regime remains firmly intact.
The broader context, as reported by KBS, is a region on edge. North Korea’s statements reflect deep-seated anxieties about sovereignty, external intervention, and the right of nations to determine their own destinies. Pyongyang’s spokesperson put it plainly: “Any rhetorical threats or military actions that infringe on a country’s political system, territorial integrity, or interfere in internal affairs are unacceptable and must be condemned globally.” This sentiment finds resonance in both North Korea and Iran, countries that have long positioned themselves as bulwarks against Western influence.
Yet, the implications of Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise go beyond rhetoric. His close relationship with the IRGC, Iran’s most powerful military and economic force, signals a likely continuation—if not intensification—of the policies that have defined Iran’s posture toward the US and Israel. According to multiple sources, Mojtaba is widely regarded as a hardliner, and his selection by the Assembly of Experts was seen by many in the West as a foregone conclusion.
For North Korea, the events in Iran offer both a cautionary tale and a rallying point. Pyongyang’s repeated condemnations of US and Israeli actions serve not only as expressions of solidarity but also as warnings to the international community about the dangers of what it sees as unlawful intervention. The Foreign Ministry’s statements, echoed in outlets like KBS and Chosun Ilbo, are clear: “We express serious concern and strongly condemn the illegal military attacks by the United States and Israel, which undermine regional peace and security and increase global instability.”
As the dust settles in Tehran and the world watches for signs of change—or continuity—under Mojtaba Khamenei, the geopolitical chessboard remains in flux. North Korea’s vocal support for Iran and its fierce denunciation of outside interference highlight the enduring power of alliances built on shared grievances and strategic interests. Whether this alignment will translate into concrete action or remain largely symbolic is an open question, but for now, Pyongyang and Tehran stand together, united in defiance of their common adversaries.
In the weeks and months ahead, the international community will be watching closely to see how Iran’s new leadership navigates the pressures from abroad and the expectations at home. For North Korea, the events have provided an opportunity to reaffirm its principles on sovereignty and non-interference—principles that, in an increasingly turbulent world, are likely to remain at the heart of its foreign policy.