On 19 June 2025, North Korea officially warned the United States and European Union in strong language, warning them to stay out of the Israel–Iran crisis, labeling any such involvement as "fanning the flames of war". Meanwhile, the regime also launched more than a dozen artillery rockets from near Pyongyang, demonstrating both its geopolitical alignment and military readiness, raising concern across East Asia.
/*Pyongyang's Diplomatic Warning*/
A North Korean Foreign Ministry official, in state-run KCNA, criticized Israel's ongoing strikes against Iran as a "crime against humanity" and branded Israel "a cancer-like body for peace". The official also threatened the U.S. and EU that interference would push the Middle East into "an uncontrollable catastrophic period". This is Pyongyang's strongest stance yet, labeling Western powers as technology-focused purveyors of regional instability.
/*Rocket Launch Near Pyongyang*/
At the same time on the same morning, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff had already assured that North Korea launched over 10 multiple-launch rockets from Sunan, northwest of Pyongyang, into the Yellow Sea. South Korean and U.S. intelligence are attempting to inspect the weapons, which are believed to be short-range ballistic missiles, in a retaliatory act against recent U.S.–ROK–Japan air drills.
/*Regional Analysis*/
Seung-Yeon Chung of NK News described the launches as a "synchronized show of force" to remind neighboring powers that North Korea remains vigilant and belligerent. Seoul's defense ministry verified the rockets that landed in international waters, and Japanese officials issued navigational warnings, with no casualties or damage reported.
/*Global Reaction and Security Implications*/
Experts refer to the timing of the launches, shortly after the three-way combined drills by Japan, the U.S., and South Korea, as evidence of Pyongyang's defiance against Western military cooperation in the region. The joint condemnation by Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington points to a shared concern about destabilizing behavior. The UN Security Council, ongoing monitoring of the Middle East conflict notwithstanding, may now consider invoking this escalation at their meetings.
/*No Casualties and Continued Vigilance*/
No casualties or damage were caused by the rocket launch, where all projectiles landed in the Yellow Sea, as testified by Japan and South Korea defense officials. North Korea is saying something loud here: any Western alignment with Iran or Israel will be confronted with additional military threats from the North. The incident affirms Pyongyang's growing confidence in invoking regional crises to communicate globally.