North Korea appears to be distancing itself from longtime ally Iran as it seeks to preserve the possibility of renewed diplomacy with the United States following the ongoing Middle East conflict, South Korean lawmakers said on Monday.
Citing a briefing by the National Intelligence Service, lawmakers said Pyongyang has so far refrained from providing weapons or supplies to Iran since the start of the Iran war on February 28.
According to Park Sun-won, who attended the closed-door session, North Korea also avoided public gestures typically expected of close allies. It did not issue condolences following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, nor did it send a message after his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named as successor.
The restrained response contrasts with more vocal positions taken by countries like China and Russia. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has issued only two relatively muted statements on the conflict, reflecting what analysts see as a deliberate effort to avoid antagonizing Washington.
South Korea’s intelligence agency believes this approach may be aimed at creating diplomatic space ahead of a potential summit involving Xi Jinping and Donald Trump expected in May.
At the same time, North Korea is grappling with economic fallout from the conflict, including supply chain disruptions, rising prices, and currency pressures. The country is also reportedly seeking to secure additional oil supplies from Russia.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently signaled openness to improved ties with the U.S., stating there was no reason the two countries “cannot get along well” if Washington recognizes Pyongyang as a nuclear state and abandons what it calls a hostile policy.
The NIS assesses that Kim’s remarks were a calculated move to keep diplomatic options open and position North Korea for renewed engagement with the U.S. once tensions in the Middle East ease.