North Korea strongly criticized the U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it "a violation of sovereignty and international law."
A North Korean Foreign Ministry Spokesperson claimed on the 23rd through a question-and-answer format with the Korean Central News Agency, "We strongly condemn the U.S. attack on Iran, which is a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and other international law norms that respect sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs and brutally undermines the territorial integrity and security interests of sovereign states."
The spokesperson added, "Opposing any threat or use of force that obstructs the territorial integrity and political independence of any country in international relations is both the purpose and principle of the United Nations Charter, reflecting the consensus of the international community, and embodies its fundamental spirit."
North Korea attributed the cause of the recent Middle Eastern crisis to Israel and the West. The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said, "The recklessness of Israel, which has been expanding its unilateral interests through constant wars and territorial expansion, and the Western-style liberal order that has tolerated and encouraged it, are inevitable products of this situation."
The spokesperson also noted, "The actions of Israel and the United States, which have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East under the pretext of so-called 'peacekeeping' and 'threat elimination' through the use of physical force, are raising serious concerns about the negative repercussions for global security dynamics."
North Korea urged, "The international community should raise a unified voice of condemnation and rejection against the confrontational actions of the United States and Israel."
North Korea and Iran share an anti-U.S. orientation and have maintained a longstanding friendly relationship. Previously, North Korea had stated its position of "firmly condemning" Israel's attacks on Iran.