On May 21, the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) held a book launch event in Washington, D.C., focusing on the strategic partnership between North Korea and Iran.
The book, titled Rogue Allies: The Strategic Partnership between Iran and North Korea, is co-authored by Dr. Bruce Bechtol, professor at Angelo State University, and security studies expert Dr. Anthony Celso.
In the book, the authors analyze how North Korea has engaged in military cooperation and weapons proliferation with Iran and its proxy terrorist organizations in the Middle East.
During their presentations, the co-authors emphasized that the relationship between North Korea and Iran goes beyond mere tactical cooperation, describing it as a long-term strategic alliance.
Professor Bechtol stated, “There’s been a lot of discussion recently about military cooperation between North Korea and Russia,” but he also stressed, “In addition to that, North Korea’s illegal military cooperation with the Middle East began in 1983 and has never stopped.”
Dr. Celso added, “The relationship between North Korea and Iran is extremely strong—they form what’s often called an ‘Axis of Resistance.’”
At the event, attendees had the opportunity to purchase the book and interact with the authors during a signing session.
HRNK President Greg Scarlatoiu told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that the purpose of the event was “to highlight how North Korea, through networks in the Middle East and beyond, continues to pose a threat to global security.”
Edited by: Jaewoo Park
Translated by: Doohyun Kim
