Tokyo: A pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan has issued a call for nations to distance themselves from the United States in order to safeguard their national interests, citing the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The paper argues that reliance on a U.S.-led international order could potentially jeopardize national interests.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Choson Sinbo, in its commentary, highlighted that the blockade of the significant maritime route and fluctuating oil prices serve as indicators of the risks associated with dependence on U.S.-driven policies. The commentary suggests that the uncertainty following a two-week ceasefire should prompt countries to reconsider their alliances, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing their own interests over aligning with a nation focused on its own benefits and those of its allies.

The statement reflects North Korea's consistent opposition to a U.S.-dominated global order, while advocating for a multipolar world structure. Despite this, North Korean state media have not directly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump by name, and the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's primary newspaper, has refrained from reporting on the U.S.-Iran conflict.

South Korea's intelligence agency has noted that North Korea appears to be distancing itself from Iran, possibly to maintain diplomatic flexibility with Washington. An example of this is Pyongyang's decision not to send a condolence message following the death of Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.