Overview

• North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of trampling Iran’s territorial integrity by targeting three fortified underground nuclear sites on June 22–23.
• Retired South Korean general Chun In-bum says Pyongyang will bolster its nuclear arsenal and upgrade protective measures including deeper underground bunkers and enhanced air defenses.
• Analysts note that North Korea’s program already outpaces Iran’s, with warheads potentially deployable on multiple delivery systems such as ICBMs capable of reaching the US mainland.
• Experts agree that Pyongyang is unlikely to resume dialogue with the US after witnessing the decisive nature of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
• Leif-Eric Easley and other observers warn that Russia’s close coordination with Iran and North Korea reflects a broader strategy to counterbalance the US and its allies.