‘Israel is a cancer’: North Korea blasts US, EU in explosive rant

In one of its most inflammatory statements, North Korea has condemned Israel as a “cancer-like entity” and blamed the United States and its Western allies for igniting and prolonging the devastating war between Israel and Iran.

The statement, broadcast via the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), on late Wednesday, June 18, 2025, represents a significant escalation in Pyongyang’s rhetoric amid rising global tensions surrounding the conflict.

“The Zionist regime is a cancer-like entity imposed by imperialist powers in the heart of the Middle East, destabilizing the region for decades,” said a spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry.

“The current war is not the result of Iranian aggression, but the inevitable backlash against decades of Western interference and blind support for Israeli atrocities.”

The statement directly accuses the United States, the European Union, and their allies of enabling what it called “systemic aggression, occupation, and nuclear provocations” by Israel—allegations which echo long-standing narratives promoted by Iran and its proxy groups in the region.

The comments come just days after Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli territory in response to Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The war, now entering a dangerous phase, has drawn international attention, with the U.S. and the UK reportedly considering military involvement on Israel’s behalf.

North Korea, which maintains strong ties with Iran, has seized the opportunity to position itself as a vocal opponent of Western military engagement.

The statement condemned any Western support for Israel as “reckless adventurism” and warned of “grave consequences for global stability.”

“It is the hypocritical Western powers—chiefly the United States and its European satellites—that have sown the seeds of chaos,” the spokesperson added.

Though not directly involved in Middle Eastern conflicts, North Korea has:

Sold ballistic missile technology to Iran.

Backed anti-Israel factions diplomatically for decades.

Repeatedly condemned U.S. military involvement in the region as neo-imperialist.

By characterizing Israel as a “cancer,” North Korea is aligning itself ideologically with Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and other militant groups that oppose Israel’s existence.

Analysts say this marks a strategic attempt by Pyongyang to:

Undermine Western legitimacy globally, especially in conflict zones.

Rally anti-Western states around a shared narrative.

Distract international attention from its own nuclear ambitions and human rights violations.

“This is classic Pyongyang playbook—use foreign crises to reassert anti-U.S. sentiment, increase diplomatic relevance, and tie itself to like-minded regimes,” said Dr. Emily Carver, a North Korea specialist at the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies.

The intensifying rhetoric from Pyongyang adds another volatile actor to an already unstable global situation.

With nuclear-armed nations like the U.S., Russia, and possibly the UK being drawn into the Israel-Iran war, North Korea’s provocations—though distant—cannot be dismissed as empty.

International observers warn that such statements, while symbolic, may embolden Iran and its regional allies, while also undermining diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict.

The U.S. and its allies have yet to formally respond to the latest remarks from Pyongyang.

However, military and diplomatic leaders are reportedly on high alert for potential provocations from North Korea on the Korean Peninsula or in cyberspace, as the regime has a history of testing weapons or launching attacks during global crises.

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