North Korea Sends Delegation to Iran... Says to South Korea "Barking Beyond Limits"

North Korea Strengthens Anti-American Alliance... Seeks Military Cooperation
Criticizes US and Israel, Enhances Solidarity with Iran
Consolidates Missile Cooperation... Negative Impact on South Korea's Security

On the 22nd, North Korea conducted a training exercise under the guidance of Chairman Kim Jong-un, operating 600mm super-large multiple rocket launcher units within the national nuclear weapons comprehensive management system known as the Nuclear Trigger System for the first time, according to Korean Central TV on the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea has sent a delegation to Iran, the epicenter of conflicts in the Middle East. This move is interpreted as an effort to solidify the anti-American alliance connecting North Korea, Russia, and Iran, while also strengthening military cooperation. Meanwhile, North Korea sharply criticized South Korea, saying the "puppet military gangster leaders are barking excessively."

North Korea Sends Delegation to Iran... Focus on Military Cooperation

The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, reported on the 24th that "a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, led by Comrade Yun Jeong-ho, the Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, departed Pyongyang on the 23rd to visit Iran." This is the first visit by a high-ranking North Korean official to Iran since Park Chol-min, Vice Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, in 2019. The newspaper did not mention the purpose or duration of the visit.

Recently, Iran and its arch-enemy Israel have been exchanging attacks, escalating tensions in the Middle East. North Korea's dispatch of a delegation at this time appears to be an intention to support its traditional ally Iran and further strengthen the anti-American alliance.

In fact, North Korea has consistently criticized the United States and Israel while voicing opinions on Middle Eastern affairs. On this day as well, the newspaper published an article titled "The Mask of Middle East Peace Mediator Completely Removed," criticizing the U.S. for exercising veto power to block Palestine's full membership in the United Nations and taking a biased stance in favor of Israel.

The newspaper stated, "The United States is not a mediator of Middle East peace but a thorough disruptor and a behind-the-scenes manipulator pushing its henchmen toward mass slaughter," adding, "The reckless behavior of Israel, which is currently being carried out without hesitation, is becoming increasingly tyrannical under the protection of its American master."

Since North Korea and Iran, centered around Russia, continue arms trade and military cooperation, this meeting raises concerns about negative impacts on security on the Korean Peninsula. In particular, if cooperation between the two countries solidifies in areas such as solid-fuel hypersonic missiles, North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities could further advance.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, explained, "Although the visit of Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Yun Jeong-ho to Iran appears to be economic cooperation on the surface, the possibility of actual military cooperation cannot be excluded. It seems to be a move to clearly side with Iran in the Israel-Iran conflict while simultaneously initiating a niche strategy to earn foreign currency through close military ties between North Korea and Iran."

Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Yo-jong: "If South Korea Acts Recklessly Trusting the U.S., It Will Be Annihilated Immediately"

Meanwhile, North Korea is raising its level of provocation by increasing criticism of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises.

Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, stated in a commentary that "We will continue to amass overwhelming and strongest military power to protect our sovereignty, safety, and regional peace," emphasizing, "No one can break our determination."

Kim Yo-jong listed the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises conducted this year, including cyber alliance drills, joint special operations training, marine corps joint exercises, winter joint exercises, and joint air exercises, as well as the deployment of U.S. strategic assets such as the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and strategic bomber B-52H, showing sensitivity to the joint drills.

She warned, "If the United States continues to gather its lackeys to boast of power and threaten the safety of our country, the security of the United States and its allied countries will face even greater risks," adding, "The United States should not cultivate reckless bravery in its top lackeys, the South Koreans."

She further criticized, "Of course, I know that a frightened dog barks a lot, but recently the puppet military gangster leaders in South Korea have been barking excessively," and warned, "If they act recklessly trusting their master and attempt military responses against us, they will be annihilated immediately."

Kim Yo-jong's statement is also analyzed as an attempt to solidify the confrontation structure of 'North Korea-China-Russia versus South Korea-U.S.-Japan' and justify their nuclear and missile technology development.

On the same day, North Korea's Foreign Ministry's External Information Department issued a statement mentioning the comprehensive tactical exercise simulating a nuclear counterattack using a super-large multiple rocket launcher conducted on the 22nd, claiming, "This is a clear warning signal to the United States and the Republic of Korea, who unilaterally escalate military tensions in the Korean Peninsula region. It is a legitimate exercise of self-defense rights to deter the outbreak of war."