"Strongly Condemns 'Shameless and Gangster-Like Behavior'"
Avoids Direct Criticism of Trump
North Korea has strongly condemned the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike, denouncing it as an "illegal and outrageous act of aggression."
On March 1, North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement declaring, "This is a grave violation of the UN Charter, which is founded on the basic principles of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs." The statement went on to say, "We condemn in the strongest terms the shameless and gangster-like behavior of the United States and Israel." According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea asserted that this incident is a 'logical consequence' of America's hegemonic nature and serves as concrete evidence of the collapse of global peace and stability.
North Korea also noted, "The current situation in Iran could have significant negative geopolitical impacts even on regions unrelated to the incident," expressing deep concerns about potential repercussions for Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula. This reflects the North Korean leadership's sense of crisis following the death of a friendly nation's leader in a U.S. targeted airstrike.
North Korea emphasized the necessity of anti-American solidarity with Iran, stating, "Unrestrained acts of power and tyranny that are not met with strong responses and sufficient resistance are forcing countries in the region to pay a heavy price." However, the statement did not directly mention or criticize U.S. President Donald Trump, indicating a measured approach in consideration of future North Korea-U.S. relations.
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![North Korea Strongly Condemns 'U.S.-Israel': "Gangster-like Behavior"... Avoids Mention of Trump (Update) [U.S. Iran Airstrike]](https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2022120214404238407_1669959641.jpg)

