{"id":7319,"date":"2026-03-25T14:44:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jubaglobal.com\/?p=7319"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:44:12","slug":"north-korea-justifies-nuclear-arsenal-using-iran-war-as-precedent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/north-korea-justifies-nuclear-arsenal-using-iran-war-as-precedent\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea Justifies Nuclear Arsenal Using Iran War as Precedent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comMarch 25, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"1968\" src=\"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/03\/IMG_4137.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/03\/IMG_4137.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/03\/IMG_4137-768x1145.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/03\/IMG_4137-1030x1536.jpeg 1030w, https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/03\/IMG_4137-1024x1527.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1320px) 100vw, 1320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In a strongly worded statement on March 25, 2026, North Korean leader <strong>Kim Jong Un<\/strong> cited the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran as direct justification for maintaining and expanding Pyongyang\u2019s nuclear weapons program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking during a high-level meeting of the Workers\u2019 Party of Korea, Kim declared that the current war in the Middle East proves \u201cthe only reliable guarantee of sovereignty and security is a powerful nuclear deterrent.\u201d He pointed to Iran\u2019s vulnerability after decades of forgoing a full nuclear breakout as a cautionary tale for North Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Excerpts from Kim\u2019s Statement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cThe imperialists are now brutally attacking Iran, which did not possess a complete nuclear force. This is clear proof that giving up nuclear weapons means giving up one\u2019s right to exist.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cOur nuclear arsenal is not for negotiation \u2014 it is the cornerstone of our eternal security.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kim ordered accelerated production of nuclear warheads and long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the continental United States.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>North Korean state media published images of Kim inspecting new missile production lines and nuclear facilities, emphasizing that the program would continue \u201cwithout the slightest hesitation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Timing and Strategic Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The statement comes on <strong>Day 25<\/strong> of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, which began with massive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, missile bases, and leadership targets. North Korea has closely monitored the war, viewing it as a real-time demonstration of what happens when a nation lacks an operational nuclear deterrent against superior conventional forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pyongyang sees clear parallels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities were heavily damaged despite years of international diplomacy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The US and Israel acted decisively once they perceived an existential threat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even indirect negotiations have not stopped the military campaign.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For Kim Jong Un, the lesson is simple: only a credible, survivable nuclear force prevents such attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>North Korea\u2019s Nuclear Posture in 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>North Korea currently possesses an estimated 50\u201390 nuclear warheads and is rapidly expanding its arsenal. Recent developments include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Successful tests of solid-fuel ICBMs (Hwasong-18 and Hwasong-19).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deployment of tactical nuclear weapons along the border with South Korea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advances in submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and hypersonic glide vehicles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Kim has repeatedly rejected any form of denuclearization, calling previous talks with the United States \u201ca waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reactions from the International Community<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>United States<\/strong>: The Trump administration condemned the statement as \u201cdangerous and provocative.\u201d Officials noted that the Iran operation was specifically targeted at a regime actively pursuing nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism, whereas North Korea already possesses them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>South Korea<\/strong>: Seoul expressed deep concern, calling on the international community to strengthen sanctions and deterrence on the Korean Peninsula.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>China<\/strong>: Beijing urged \u201crestraint on all sides\u201d while privately worrying that heightened tensions could lead to more North Korean provocations, including missile tests over Japan or closer to US bases in the region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Russia<\/strong>: Moscow, already aligned with Pyongyang through arms deals and joint military exercises, offered muted support, framing North Korea\u2019s stance as a legitimate response to \u201cUS aggression.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Broader Implications for Global Non-Proliferation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Analysts warn that Kim\u2019s explicit use of the Iran war as justification could undermine international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation elsewhere. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and even Japan may quietly reassess their own security doctrines if they perceive that nuclear weapons provide the ultimate insurance policy against great-power intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The timing is particularly sensitive because the US is currently engaged in high-stakes negotiations with Iran over a 15-point peace plan that demands complete dismantlement of Tehran\u2019s nuclear infrastructure. North Korea\u2019s statement sends a clear message: once a nation crosses the nuclear threshold, reversing course becomes nearly impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Connection to the Wider 2026 Crises<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>North Korea\u2019s declaration adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile global security environment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Russia continues massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Middle East faces risks of new fronts in Lebanon and the Gulf.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Energy markets remain unstable due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In this context, Pyongyang appears to be opportunistically raising its profile, possibly seeking new concessions or simply reminding the world of its existence as a nuclear power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What Comes Next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intelligence agencies in Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo are closely watching for signs of imminent North Korean provocations \u2014 such as a new nuclear test, ICBM launch, or border incident. Any such move could further stretch US military resources already committed to the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kim Jong Un\u2019s latest rhetoric reinforces a long-held belief in Pyongyang: in a world of great-power competition, nuclear weapons are not a bargaining chip \u2014 they are survival insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Juba Global News Network<\/strong> will continue to monitor developments on the Korean Peninsula and their intersection with the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. For live updates and in-depth analysis, visit <strong>JubaGlobal.com<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This comprehensive report captures the latest provocative development from Pyongyang. Stay informed with <strong>Juba Global News Network<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comMarch 25, 2026 In a strongly worded statement on&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[643,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-more-articles","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7319"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7321,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7319\/revisions\/7321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}