Seoul says Pyongyang has not been supplying Iran with weapons within the hopes of having the ability to reopen diplomatic dialogue with the US.
Revealed On 6 Apr 2026
North Korea seems to be distancing itself from longtime companion Iran within the hopes of forming a brand new relationship with the US, South Korean intelligence believes.
Seoul’s Nationwide Intelligence Service (NIS) sees no indicators that North Korea has despatched weapons or provides to Tehran because the US-Israel war on Iran started on the finish of February, lawmaker Park Solar-won, who attended a closed-door briefing held by the NIS, stated on Sunday.
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Whereas Iran’s different allies China and Russia have steadily issued statements on the US-Israel conflict on Iran, North Korea’s International Ministry has solely issued two toned-down statements up to now, stated the NIS.
Whereas Pyongyang did condemn the US and Israeli assaults on Iran as unlawful, it didn’t challenge public condolences after Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s dying or ship a congratulatory message when Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeded him.
The spy company stated Pyongyang is probably going adopting this cautious strategy to place it for a brand new diplomatic chapter with the US as soon as the Center East battle subsides, stated Park.
The NIS additionally advised lawmakers that it now believes Supreme Chief Kim Jong Un is grooming his teenage daughter as his successor, citing a current public show of her driving a tank.
The NIS stated the imagery was meant to focus on the supposed navy aptitude of the teen, who’s believed to be round 13 and named Ju Ae.
Such scenes are meant to pay “homage” to Kim’s personal public navy appearances throughout the early 2010s, when he was being ready to succeed his father, Park stated.
Kim’s highly effective sister, Kim Yo Jong, was earlier regarded as a number one candidate to succeed her brother.
On Monday, she was in North Korean headlines as she welcomed an apology issued by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday over a January drone incursion.
“The ROK [Republic of Korea] president personally expressed remorse and talked a couple of measure for stopping recurrence. Our authorities appreciated it as very lucky and smart behaviour for its personal sake,” Kim Yo Jong stated in a press release carried by the official Korean Central Information Company.
Seoul initially denied any official function within the January drone incursion, with authorities suggesting it was the work of civilians, however Lee stated a probe had revealed authorities officers had been concerned.
“We specific remorse to the North over the pointless navy tensions attributable to the irresponsible and reckless actions of some people,” Lee stated.
Lee has sought to restore ties with North Korea since taking workplace final 12 months, criticising his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to scatter propaganda over Pyongyang.
His repeated overtures, nonetheless, have gone unanswered by the North till now.
Lee’s expression of remorse follows Kim’s labelling of Seoul because the “most hostile state” in a coverage handle in March during which he vowed to “completely reject and disrespect it”.
