Kim Jong-un sends sympathy messages to Iran, Japan: KCNA

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region of Russia, Sept. 13, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent messages of sympathy to the leaders of Iran and Japan on Saturday, the North's state media said, after the countries were hit with deadly bombings and an earthquake respectively this week.

Two bomb blasts in Iran claimed by the Islamic State killed nearly 100 people Wednesday, while the death toll in Japan's devastating earthquake on New Year's Day is nearing 100.

Kim expressed condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida with the hope that affected areas would be restored to stability soon, according to state media KCNA.

He also expressed sympathy to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and reaffirmed North Korea's stand in "opposing all sorts of terrorism," the KCNA said.

Meanwhile, North Korea fired more than 200 artillery rounds near a disputed maritime border with South Korea, Friday, prompting the South to take "corresponding" action with live fire drills. (Reuters)