SEOUL: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has sent messages of sympathy to the leaders of Japan and Iran, official media reported, following the countries were hit with earthquake and bombings respectively this week.
Kim expressed condolences to Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida with the hope that affected regions would be restored to stability soon, KCNA reported.
North Korea’s Leader Sends Sympathy Messages to Japan, Iran
More than 62 people were killed and over 300 people reportedly injured in a powerful quake that struck central Japan on New Year’s Day. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake on January 1st that rattled Ishikawa region on the main island of Honshu triggered tsunami waves over a metre high, also sparked a major fire and tore separately roads.
Kim Jong Un also sent message of sympathy to the leader of Iran after twine blasts in Kerman which killed around 84 people at a memorial ceremony in Iran for slain Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani. More than 170 people were injured in two consecutive bomb blasts during a gathering commemorating the fourth anniversary of the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani in Iran’s southern city of Kerman. The blasts took place near the Saheb al-Zaman Mosque in Kerman, Soleimani’s hometown, where he is buried.
READ ALSO: Gaza Death Toll Surpasses 22,600: Ministry
Iran’s state media referred to the bombings as a “terrorist attack,” escalating regional tensions. The bombings, targeting civilians who had gathered to honor Soleimani, according to state media. Kerman’s deputy governor declared the incident as a “terrorist attack.”
