Trump’s Iran airstrikes may push North Korea to boost its nuclear program and strengthen its alliance with Russia, sparking fears of faster proliferation and rising tension. Experts warn US actions could backfire, making Kim Jong Un more determined than ever.
North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is now front and center once again after President Trump’s recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. While B-2 stealth bombers hit sites linked to Tehran’s atomic ambitions, leaders in East Asia are now trying to read between the lines. For Pyongyang, this show of military force is no warning—it’s a reason to double down. Experts say these US-led strikes will likely harden Kim Jong Un’s belief that nuclear weapons are the only reliable shield against foreign intervention. And with North Korea already possessing an advanced arsenal of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), the risks tied to any similar action on the Korean Peninsula are far higher. How will Trump’s Iran strike affect North Korea’s nuclear ambitions? President Trump’s decision to hit Iran’s nuclear facilities is sending a dangerous signal to North Korea. According to Lim Eul-chul, professor at South Korea’s Kyungnam University, “President Trump’s strike on Iran will only reinforce the legitimacy of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.” Lim warned that Pyongyang may now feel even more pressure to enhance its preemptive nuclear missile capability. The logic is chillingly clear for North Korea’s leadership: Iran, Iraq, and Libya didn’t have nuclear weapons—and look what happened to them. North Korea, however, already has the bomb. And based on US actions, Kim Jong Un may believe that keeping it is the only way to ensure his regime survives. Could this trigger closer military ties between North Korea and Russia? Absolutely—and it already is. North Korea has found a strategic lifeline in its growing military partnership with Russia. Since forming a formal defense agreement in 2024, the two nations have ramped up cooperation in weapons development, joint exercises, and technology sharing.Live Events According to the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), North Korea has sent over 14,000 soldiers and millions of munitions—including missiles and artillery—to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. In return, Russia has reportedly supplied Pyongyang with advanced military gear such as anti-aircraft missiles, electronic warfare systems, air defense units, and refined oil. This two-way military exchange not only supports North Korea’s defense industry but also allows it to gain hands-on combat experience, which is extremely rare for a heavily sanctioned state. Why does Kim Jong Un see nuclear weapons as a survival tool? Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), explains that the Iran strike will likely reinforce two key beliefs for Kim Jong Un. First, that the US doesn’t have a viable military option against North Korea—unlike with Iran. Second, that nuclear weapons are non-negotiable. This isn’t just theory. North Korea has already conducted six nuclear tests and has developed long-range missiles that can potentially reach the US. Unlike Iran, which has never completed a deliverable nuclear weapon, North Korea has an operational nuclear deterrent. Professor Leif-Eric Easley of Ewha Womans University in Seoul highlights that Pyongyang’s weapons are now capable of being launched via ICBMs, and South Korea remains well within striking range of a broad spectrum of North Korean missiles. Is a US military strike on North Korea even possible? Not realistically. Any attack on North Korea would come with devastating consequences. Lim warns that a strike on Pyongyang “could provoke the risk of full-scale nuclear war.” And under the US-South Korea alliance treaty, military action would require Seoul’s consent, adding legal and political complications. Moreover, unlike Iran, North Korea has a mutual defense pact with Russia, signed in 2024. That agreement allows Moscow to intervene automatically in the event of an external attack on Pyongyang, giving North Korea a powerful deterrent against unilateral US action. This complex “matrix of deterrents”—which includes a nuclear arsenal, regional alliances, and Russian backing—makes any direct military confrontation in East Asia vastly more dangerous than what just played out in the Middle East. Will the Iran strike accelerate nuclear proliferation? That’s the real risk. Instead of acting as a warning to nuclear-aspiring nations, the Iran strike might have the opposite effect—it could act as a blueprint for why nuclear weapons are essential. “This attack will deepen North Korea’s distrust of the US,” said Lim. He believes it could serve as a catalyst for even closer military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. So while Washington might hope this show of force will discourage nuclear development, in Pyongyang—and possibly other parts of the world—it may do just the opposite. North Korea sees Trump’s strike on Iran as justification for keeping nukes. Pyongyang may now deepen military ties with Russia in response. Experts warn of accelerated nuclear development and heightened risk of regional instability. A US attack on North Korea is highly unlikely due to massive risks and international complications. The Iran strike may unintentionally encourage other nations to pursue nuclear arms. FAQs: Q1: Why does North Korea want to keep its nuclear weapons after the US airstrikes on Iran? North Korea sees nukes as protection from regime change, especially after Iran was attacked. Q2: How is North Korea strengthening military ties with Russia after the US strike on Iran? North Korea is sharing weapons and troops with Russia and getting advanced arms in return.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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