North Korea Seeks Iran’s Support Through Stronger Economic Relations
Despite sanctions by the United States still in place, North Korea's Ambassador Kang Sam Hyon is looking at increasing economic relations with Iran.
"Despite the fact that North Korea is under sanctions by the enemies and has abundant problems in economic issues, we try to obviate these problems and develop our trade relations with Iran," Kang states to Fars News on Aug. 30.
"We also endeavor to develop ties with Iran in oil, agricultural, fishery and animal farming fields."
Trend News Agency also reported on Aug. 30 that Ambassador Kang has requested support for North Korea from Iran's media.
"Korean Peninsula is in a critical situation and therefore we need Iranian and the world's news media support," he explains.
In June, Kang has sought immediate humanitarian assistance from Iran's Red Crescent to fight Pyongyang's "worst drought in 100 years," which has resulted to an alarming food shortage.
Since the Islamic revolution of Iran in 1979, Pyongyang and Tehran have been allies. Currently, both nations are under economic sanctions under the U.S. and U.K. due to their nuclear programs taking a toll on their economic growth and relations.
The Islamic Republic, however, has come to an agreement with the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, UK and U.S.) in July to restrain their nuclear program and, in return, revoke most of their international sanctions. This will soon allow Iran to trade oil and gas products under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
"I'm guessing that they'd be interested in increasing fuel supplies by any means that they can afford and get by with under the current sanctions regime," says David Von Hippel of the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability.
Even though economic and political relations between Iran and North Korea have remained intact, military support has been put on hold as the war between Iran and Iraq has ended in the 80s. However, according to a 2010 leaked diplomatic cable, the U.S. has speculated that the missile program of Iran was created with North Korea's technical assistance.