▲ This undated file photo, provided by Reuters, shows a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

N Korea-Iran war

Pro-N. Korea paper claims reliance on U.S.-led order risks national interests amid Mideast war

SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) -- A pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan on Monday called for countries to distance themselves from the United States in a bid to defend their national interests amid the U.S.-Iran war and Tehran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Choson Sinbo claimed in its commentary that the blockade of the crucial waterway and volatile oil prices showed that the more countries depend on U.S.-led international order, the greater they could face the risk of their national interests being undermined.

"It remains uncertain regarding how the situation will unfold following a two-week ceasefire. But it would be wise of countries to distance themselves from a belligerent country that only cares about interests of itself and some allies, and to walk on the path to protecting their own interests," the newspaper said.

North Korea appears to be reiterating its long-standing stance of rejecting the U.S.-led international order while supporting the multipolar world order.

Still, the North's state media have not directly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump by name. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper targeting the North Korean audience, also has not reported on the U.S.-Iran war.

South Korea's spy agency recently said North Korea seems to be distancing itself from Iran in an effort to leave open diplomatic room with Washington, taking the example of Pyongyang not sending a message of condolences over the death of Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]