Israeli Minister's Assessment of the Impact of Developments on the Korean Peninsula on Confrontation with Iran

The Israeli Minister of Intelligence has stated that the fulfillment of promises made during the meeting of the leaders of North and South Korea opens up the opportunity for the United States to re-engage in negotiations regarding the JCPOA. At the same time, Iran has called for 'de-escalation' between the two Koreas without 'provocation and extra-regional interference.' Both Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which are the most hardline hostile governments in the Middle East, have welcomed the historical developments on the Korean Peninsula in their initial official reactions. In this context, Israel has stated that the realization of promises made during the Friday meeting between the leaders of North Korea and South Korea 'opens up' the U.S. President's hand in renegotiating the nuclear deal with Iran, and that Iran should be dealt with 'more strictly.' Iran has also stated that 'a new chapter of de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula should continue cautiously and without provoking extra-regional countries.' Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, which is one of the nine nuclear-armed countries, met with Moon Jae-in on Friday, April 27, at the border between the two Koreas in an unprecedented event. Upon returning to Pyongyang, Kim called the meeting historic and emphasized that a peace treaty for the Korean Peninsula would be signed by the end of this year. These developments have been warmly welcomed by Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and the international community. On Friday, April 27, Israel Katz, the Israeli Minister of Intelligence, stated in an interview with Reuters that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would significantly reduce 'the threat of Iran' and 'the arms race in the Middle East,' and that 'North Korean-Iranian missile cooperation would also be affected.' According to Katz, the U.S. President now has more power in confronting Iran and can even better convince Europeans that they should not be a weak link in the coalition [against Iran]. The Israeli Minister of Intelligence also added that if North Korea truly gives up its nuclear weapons, it would have a greater impact on North Korean missile cooperation with Iran. He reminded that Israel has 'a lot of evidence' of cooperation between Pyongyang and Tehran in the exchange of ballistic missile technology. This Israeli official's emphasis on the need for stricter measures against Iran in light of the effects of developments on the Korean Peninsula comes as Donald Trump stated on Friday in a meeting with Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, that 'count on my word' that 'the criminal regime of Iran, which is behind every problem in the Middle East,' will 'not reach nuclear weapons.' Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Minister of Defense, who was in Washington during the Chancellor's visit, stated in separate meetings with his American counterpart, General James Mattis, and National Security Advisor John Bolton that, from Israel's perspective, the JCPOA must either be completely changed or canceled. Meanwhile, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, welcomed the developments on the Korean Peninsula on Saturday, April 28, calling the meeting of the two Korean leaders 'a responsible step in the right direction' that 'will contribute effectively to sustainable regional and global peace and security.' According to Iranian media, Qasemi also stated that 'the new and historic chapter of de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula must continue cautiously, bilaterally, and without interference and provocation from extra-regional countries.' The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson did not hide his concern over North Korea's rapprochement with the global community and distancing from Iran. Qasemi stated that based on 'the 40-year experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially the recent experience of the JCPOA, the U.S. is not a reliable actor and has no commitment to international obligations... and this issue has intensified under the Trump administration compared to the past.' North Korea, which has surprised the world in recent days with its policy changes, recently supported Iran's position regarding the JCPOA; the official North Korean newspaper wrote two weeks ago that Iran has continued its missile program 'without yielding to external pressures... and Tehran, relying on the popular support of its people, is increasing its defensive capabilities without interference.' Despite its global isolation, the communist regime of North Korea has maintained close relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran; Tehran and Pyongyang have multiple military and technological agreements. North Korea is also accused of having assisted Iran's nuclear program, including through Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani nuclear scientist, who was a link between Tehran and Pyongyang in assisting North Korea with Iran's clandestine nuclear program before it was discovered. However, Israel has closely monitored North Korea's missile cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran over the years and has emphasized that the first long-range missiles of the Islamic Republic of Iran were built based on technologies obtained from North Korea. Iran's long-range missiles, with the slogan 'Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth,' were tested shortly after the signing of the nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers. The Pentagon also stated last spring that the test of a new Iranian missile from a submarine was the result of cooperation between Tehran and Pyongyang. Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Minister of Defense, stated last year that the North Korean leader threatens the security of the entire region and global stability; this led to an unprecedented reaction from North Korea, which threatened that 'the punishment for anyone who speaks about the Supreme Leader of North Korea will be harsh and merciless.' In addition, Israel has been monitoring North Korea's contacts and interactions with Iran's allied groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Last Saturday, Fadi Mohammed al-Batsh, a Palestinian member of Hamas who held a PhD in electrical engineering and was a lecturer at the University of Kuala Lumpur, was killed by two attackers with 14 bullets in the Malaysian capital. Ronen Bergman, an Israeli intelligence reporter, wrote in the New York Times on Thursday that al-Batsh was in contact and negotiations with North Korea on behalf of Hamas to strengthen the group's rocket capabilities and drone unit, and had reached agreements. Hamas confirmed al-Batsh's membership in the movement, and Israeli intelligence service Mossad considers him to be the agent behind his assassination, with Bergman writing that the assassination of al-Batsh 'was part of a broader Mossad campaign against Hamas abroad.'