How do US military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities shape thinking in Pyongyang? In a recent Wall Street Journal article, ONN Senior Analyst Tianran Xu weighed in on the potential implications for North Korea. As policymakers and analysts assess the global ripple effects of the US and Israeli operations, Xu points to a critical concern:
“North Korea is harder to penetrate, but there will be concerns over the elimination of high officials like nuclear scientists,” Xu told WSJ.
The article suggests that strikes on Iran may reinforce Kim Jong Un’s belief in nuclear weapons as essential for regime survival—possibly complicating future denuclearisation diplomacy. Xu’s insight highlights the heightened risk perception in North Korea, especially around leadership targeting and personnel safety.
