North Korea Condemns Israeli Airstrike On Iran As ‘Hideous Act Of Aggression’

North Korea has strongly condemned Israel’s recent airstrike on Iran, labeling it a “hideous act of aggression” and blaming the United States and Western nations for supporting what it called a “cancer-like” presence threatening peace in the Middle East.

In a statement released Thursday, June 19, through state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a spokesperson from North Korea’s foreign ministry voiced “serious concern” over the Israeli military action, warning that it risked triggering a wider conflict in the already volatile region.

“The present grave situation witnessed by the world clearly proves that Israel, supported and patronised by the US and the West, is a cancer-like entity for the peace in the Middle East and a chief culprit of destroying global peace and security,” the spokesperson said.

The airstrike, which took place last Friday, targeted Iranian military assets and was condemned by Pyongyang as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and an “unpardonable crime against humanity.”

North Korea also criticized what it called “behind-the-scenes forces” backing Israel, placing full responsibility for escalating tensions on both Tel Aviv and its Western allies. “The Zionists who brought a new war to the Middle East and the forces who zealously patronise and support them will be held totally responsible for destroying international peace and security,” the official added.

Pyongyang’s remarks mark its first official response to the latest flare-up between Israel and Iran. Historically, North Korea has aligned itself with Iran and other anti-U.S. states, often condemning Israel in the context of broader opposition to American influence in global affairs.

North Korea and Iran established diplomatic relations in 1973 and have maintained close ties, particularly in the fields of military cooperation and weapons development — both nations are currently under international sanctions for their weapons programs.

Citing South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, both countries have also reportedly provided arms to Russia in support of its war in Ukraine, further solidifying their shared opposition to Western-led coalitions.

Responding to the statement, an official at South Korea’s unification ministry noted that while North Korea strongly criticized Israel, it appeared to tone down its usual rhetoric against the United States — a noteworthy shift in Pyongyang’s typically hardline stance.

The international community continues to monitor the situation closely amid growing concerns that the Israeli-Iranian conflict could escalate into a broader regional crisis