'Is North Korea Watching?'... U.S. Defense Secretary: "We Will Address Iran's Nuclear Ambitions, and the Process Will Send a Clear Signal"

North Korea Criticizes Iran Airstrike as 'Act of Aggression'

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense (left), and Dan Keen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Photo by Yonhap News.

On March 4 (local time), U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Heggsess stated that the airstrike on Iran would also serve as a warning message to other nuclear-developing countries.

At a briefing held at the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters that day, Secretary Heggsess responded to a question regarding China's criticism of the U.S. invasion of Iran and North Korea, which cooperates with Iran in nuclear development, also criticizing the United States. He said, "We will address Iran's nuclear ambitions, and in the process, we will send enough signals."

This is interpreted as meaning that the U.S.'s strong response will serve as a warning to other nuclear-developing countries, such as North Korea.

Secretary Heggsess also mentioned that Middle Eastern countries are suffering damage in the course of Iran's retaliation and added, "(Other than Middle Eastern countries,) other nations have little to do with the Iran issue."

On March 1, North Korea's foreign ministry spokesperson issued a statement condemning the U.S. and Israel's military operation against Iran, calling it "an illegal and outrageous act of aggression and the most heinous form of infringement on sovereignty."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.