NK’s top envoy to Tehran attends inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president

Palestinian militant group Hamas’ leader Ismael Haniyeh attends a swearing in ceremony for the new president, at the parliament in Tehran, July 30. AFP-Yonhap

North Korea’s ambassador to Tehran has attended the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian and delivered a “warm greeting” from leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Thursday.

Ambassador Han Song-u attended the ceremony in Iran’s capital Tuesday at the invitation of the Iranian government, according to the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s main newspaper.

Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude and asked Han to relay his “greetings from the heart” to the North’s leader, it added.

In 2013 and 2017, North Korea sent Kim Yong-nam, then president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, to the inauguration ceremony of then Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

After establishing diplomatic ties in 1973, Pyongyang and Tehran have maintained close ties while under international sanctions for their weapons programs. The two countries have been suspected of exchanging ballistic missile parts and technology, especially during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War.

North Korea sent an economic delegation, led by its external economic relations minister, to Iran in April to attend a trade exhibition. It marked the first time in about five years that Pyongyang has sent a ranking official to Iran.

The North and Iran are known to be key providers of weapons to Russia for use in Moscow’s war in Ukraine. (Yonhap)