North Korea's foreign ministry stated on Sunday that it is closely monitoring the Venezuelan situation triggered by Washington's 'high-handed act,' describing the military operation as further evidence of the US's 'rogue and brutal nature.' Analysts say the events will heighten Kim Jong-un's anxiety about a similar fate befalling his regime, reinforcing his reliance on nuclear weapons. Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to continue supporting Kim to counter US and allied efforts undermining China's regional influence.
On January 8, 2026, North Korea's foreign ministry issued a statement closely monitoring the Venezuelan situation stemming from Washington's 'high-handed act,' labeling the military operation as another instance of the US's 'rogue and brutal nature.' The operation, described as a decapitation strike, led to the removal of Nicolas Maduro.
Ramon Pacheco Pardo, an international relations professor at King's College London, said the Venezuelan events would amplify North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's anxiety over the possibility of a similar outcome for his regime. 'Even though North Korea is a harder target, the same could happen to his government,' Pacheco Pardo noted. 'Plus, the US has had plans to strike North Korea in the past, and Kim knows this.'
Both North Korea and Venezuela have endured decades of friction with the US—the former over its nuclear weapons program and the latter due to disputed oil interests and former US President Donald Trump's accusations of narcoterrorism. Analysts suggest this incident will reinforce Kim's determination to maintain his nuclear arsenal as a security blanket.
Regarding China's stance, experts indicate that President Xi Jinping will likely continue supporting Kim if he perceives the US and its allies as undercutting China's regional influence. The parallels between Pyongyang and Caracas underscore the intricacies of global geopolitical tensions.
