Seoul reports North Korea maintaining distance from Iran

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has reported that North Korea appears to be distancing itself from Iran, its longtime partner. According to the NIS, there is no evidence that North Korea has sent weapons or supplies to Tehran since the US-Israeli conflict on Iran began in February.

The NIS stated that while other countries, such as China and Russia, have issued public statements condemning the conflict, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has only released two toned-down statements. The agency noted that Pyongyang did condemn the attacks as illegal but did not issue a public statement after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death or send congratulations to his successor.

The NIS believes that North Korea is adopting this cautious approach in order to position itself for potential diplomatic engagement with the US once the Middle East conflict subsides. The agency also reported that Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un appears to be grooming his teenage daughter, Ju Ae, as a potential successor. This was based on a recent public display of her driving a tank.

In other news, North Korean Foreign Minister Kim Yo Jong welcomed an apology issued by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung over a January drone incursion. The NIS reported that the apology followed a probe into the incident, which revealed government officials had been involved in the unauthorized drone deployment.

The development comes as Seoul has sought to repair ties with North Korea since taking office last year. However, the North has remained unresponsive to Lee’s repeated overtures.

Source: Al Jazeera