On June 23, 2025, North Korea issued a strong condemnation of the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, calling them a "gross violation of the sovereign rights and territorial integrity" of the Islamic Republic. As reported by Reuters, citing the DPRK state news agency KCNA, the North Korean Foreign Ministry accused the US and Israel of escalating tensions in the Middle East, saying their actions, supported by the West, were "irresponsible and provocative." Pyongyang called on the international community to unanimously condemn the "confrontational acts" of Washington and Tel Aviv, stressing that they undermine global stability and violate the UN Charter.

The statement followed the June 22 U.S. attack on three key Iranian nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — which President Donald Trump dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer.” The strikes, carried out using B-2 Spirit bombers, were aimed at “deterring Tehran’s nuclear ambitions,” though Vice President J.D. Vance said the program had only been “slowed down.” Iran, for its part, promised a “robust response,” with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi calling the attack a “flagrant violation of international law” and calling for immediate action by the U.N. Security Council.

North Korea, which has long-standing ties with Iran, including alleged cooperation in ballistic missile development, has expressed solidarity with Tehran. Pyongyang and Tehran have been suspected of sharing technology and military developments for decades, according to Reuters, raising concerns in the West. Experts such as Ankit Panda of the Carnegie Endowment say North Korea could play a key role in rebuilding Iran’s destroyed missile facilities, particularly in producing non-nuclear components such as missile explosives. However, Pyongyang is likely to act covertly to avoid revealing technology that could reach the United States.