North Korea Distances from Iran, Signals Openness to United States Ties

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Seoul: North Korea appears to be distancing itself from longtime ally Iran while carefully shaping its messaging to keep open the possibility of renewed ties with the United States, South Korean lawmakers said, citing intelligence officials.

Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Pyongyang has not sent weapons or supplies to Iran since the conflict began in late February and avoided issuing public condolences following the death of Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei. It also did not acknowledge the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader.

North Korea has issued only limited and cautious statements on the conflict, in contrast to stronger responses from other countries, reflecting a broader effort to avoid directly criticising US President Donald Trump.

Lawmakers said this restraint may be aimed at creating diplomatic space ahead of a possible summit involving Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump, and to position Pyongyang for future engagement with Washington.

At the same time, North Korea is facing economic pressure linked to the crisis, including supply disruptions, rising prices and currency volatility, while seeking alternative energy sources such as Russian oil.

During a recent party congress, leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un signalled openness to dialogue with the US, suggesting ties could improve if Washington changes its stance, in what analysts see as a calculated move to keep diplomatic options open.