Washington DC – In a rare public display of exchange, a North Korean delegation led by Yun Jong Ho, the Minister of External Economic Relations, arrived in Tehran on Tuesday.
This visit comes amidst long-standing suspicions of collaboration between the two nations, particularly in ballistic missile development.
Details Remain Scarce, but Timing Raises Eyebrows
While details surrounding the visit remain scarce, North Korean state media, KCNA, offered no specifics beyond Yun’s departure and leadership of the delegation. The timing fuels concerns, as both North Korea and Iran have been accused of supplying missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine, allegations both countries deny.
Iranian-made so-called “Shahed” Drones, which are purported to “Destroy everything,” according to a spokesman of the Ukrainian Air Force, have been used by Russian forces in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian forces have used North Korean Hwasong-11A ballistic missiles. Ukrainian forces have recently accused Russia of using two Hwasong-11A ballistic missiles in the attack on Kharkiv. North Korean transfer of missiles and other forms of support for Russian aggression have since been condemned by more than 50 nations in a Joint Statement.
It must be noted that this is not Yun’s first foray into relations with sanctioned nations.
According to South Korean government records, Yun previously held responsibilities related to North Korea’s ties with Syria. Additionally, Yun met with Russian envoys in Pyongyang in December with the possibility of exporting North Korean labor to Russia, a violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. The Kim regime has long been accused of utilizing North Korean labor to fund its weapons programs.
Iran-North Korea Nexus in the Middle East
Officially, Iran-DPRK relations are cordial, with diplomatic relations established after the Iranian Revolution in 1979. They publicly claim cooperation in education, science, and culture. However, the reality of their relations calls for much concern.
Historically, both nations have shared close alliances with the same allies for the past few decades.
The biggest concern lies in potential military cooperation. Both nations have been accused of collaborating on ballistic missile programs, possibly exchanging expertise and components. Their history of arms sales heightens this suspicion. During the Iran-Iraq War, North Korea emerged as a key supplier of weapons to Iran.
Iran-backed Hezbollah has had a series of support from the North Korean regime dating back to the 1980s, when members of Hezbollah received military training in Pyongyang. In the early 2000s, North Korea also provided assistance in building underground tunnels in Lebanon that have played a critical role in Hezbollah’s underground terrorist attacks against Israel.
Support for Hamas is also something that both nations have heavily dedicated for the last few decades. Since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, North Korea has vehemently voiced its support for Hamas. North Korean rocket-propelled grenades and artillery shells have been found in Hamas arsenals, strongly suggesting North Korea’s ongoing support for terrorist activities targeting Israel.
Despite the secrecy and international pressure, these ties persist. High-level visits, like the recent trip by North Korea’s trade minister to Iran, only fuel speculation about the true nature of their relationship. The future trajectory remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Iran and North Korea’s relationship is a matter of scrutiny for the international community.
Se Hoon Kim
Se Hoon Kim is the Assignment Editor and Senior Correspondent, East and South Asia at Global Strat View. He is also a columnist for the Sunday Guardian.
