North Korea Tones Down Iran Ties Amid Effort to Keep Door Open to US

North Korea appears to be carefully recalibrating its foreign policy stance during the ongoing Middle East conflict, distancing itself from Iran while signalling openness to renewed engagement with the United States, South Korean lawmakers said on Monday, citing intelligence officials.

According to Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), Pyongyang has not supplied weapons or other support to Iran since the conflict began on February 28. The agency also noted that North Korea refrained from issuing public condolences following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent air strikes.

Lawmaker Park Sun-won, who attended a closed-door NIS briefing, said Pyongyang also did not send any message when Mojtaba Khamenei was named as Iran’s new supreme leader. The absence of such gestures marks a notable shift in tone for a country that has historically maintained close ties with Tehran.

The NIS reported that North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has issued only two statements on the conflict so far, both measured in tone. This approach is seen as consistent with Pyongyang’s recent efforts to avoid direct criticism of US President Donald Trump.

Intelligence officials believe the restrained messaging reflects a broader strategy aimed at preserving diplomatic flexibility. The NIS assessment suggests North Korea may be positioning itself for potential engagement with Washington following an anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr Trump later this year.

Economic pressures linked to the Middle East conflict are also influencing Pyongyang’s calculations. The NIS told lawmakers that North Korea is facing disruptions in the supply of industrial goods, rising costs, and increased pressure on its currency. In response, the country is seeking to secure alternative energy sources, including oil supplies from Russia.

At the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party in late February, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hinted at the possibility of improved relations with the United States. He stated that there was no reason the two countries could not have better ties, provided Washington recognises North Korea as a nuclear state and abandons what Pyongyang describes as a hostile policy.

The NIS believes Kim’s remarks were deliberate and aimed at maintaining a workable relationship with the US administration. By moderating its stance during the Iran conflict, North Korea may be attempting to create conditions for future dialogue once regional tensions ease.

While it remains unclear how Washington will respond, analysts say Pyongyang’s cautious approach reflects a balancing act between longstanding alliances and shifting geopolitical realities.