North Korea expresses admiration for Iran's selection of its newest highest-ranking official, reports state media outlet.

North Korea has expressed its respect for Iran's decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader, according to state media reports on Wednesday, which also criticized the US and Israel for undermining regional peace.

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This statement comes after the US and Israel were accused of launching an "illegal act of aggression" against Iran, with Pyongyang condemning the attack as a violation of Iran's sovereignty.

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On Sunday, Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on February 28, in a move that defies US President Donald Trump's attempts to influence the selection of Iran's leader.

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A spokesperson for Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry stated, "We respect the rights and choice of the Iranian people to elect their supreme leader," as quoted by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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The spokesperson also accused the US and Israel of "destroying the regional peace and security foundations and escalating instability worldwide" by violating Iran's "political system and territorial integrity" and attempting to "overthrow its social system".

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According to the spokesperson, such actions "deserve worldwide criticism and rejection as they can never be tolerated", highlighting the need for international condemnation of US and Israeli actions in the region.

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For decades, the US has led efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program, but these efforts have had limited impact, with summits, sanctions, and diplomatic pressure failing to yield significant results.

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In recent months, the Trump administration has made a push to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang, with the possibility of a summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un later this year, although this proposal has yet to receive a response from North Korea.

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During his Asia trip in October, Trump expressed his willingness to meet with Kim, stating he was "100 percent" open to a meeting, but this overture was met with silence from the North.

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Kim has since indicated that the two nations could "get along" if the US were to accept North Korea's nuclear status, marking a potential shift in the diplomatic stance of the two countries.

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On Wednesday, Pyongyang's state media reported that Kim oversaw the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from the naval Choe Hyon destroyer, marking another demonstration of the country's military capabilities.

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The test came after a similar missile test was conducted from the same vessel last week, with North Korea claiming to be in the process of "arming the Navy with nuclear weapons".

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According to KCNA, Kim emphasized the importance of expanding a "powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent" during the test, with state media releasing images of Kim overseeing the launch remotely alongside his daughter, Ju Ae.

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Kim noted that "important successes" have been made in the practical deployment of "strategic and tactical strike means", highlighting the progress made in the country's nuclear program.

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South Korea's spy agency has suggested that Pyongyang may be in the process of designating Ju Ae as Kim's successor, with the young daughter frequently accompanying her father on official duties and appearing in state media photographs.

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The test came as the US and South Korea launched their springtime military drills, "Freedom Shield", on Monday, prompting Pyongyang to warn of "unimaginably terrible consequences" in response to the exercises.

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The Choe Hyon is one of two 5,000-ton destroyers in North Korea's arsenal, both of which were launched last year as part of Kim's efforts to bolster the navy with short-range tactical missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

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According to Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies, North Korea appears to be "securing the legitimacy and justification for bolstering war deterrence" through its recent actions.

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Yang also noted that the North is framing the US-South Korea drills as "not merely defensive and routine, but ultimately attempts at a preemptive war", particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Iran.