DPRK denounces Israel's attack on Palestine

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday denounced Israel's large-scale military attack on the Gaza Strip as a "gangster-like act," the official news agency KCNA reported. "We strongly denounce Israel's gangster-like act and extend full support and solidarity to the Palestinians in their just cause," a DPRK foreign ministry spokesman was quoted by the KCNA as saying. "This is an unpardonable criminal act of wantonly violating the sovereignty of Palestine and seriously harassing peace and security in the Middle East," the unnamed spokesman said, adding it was imperative for lasting peace in the Middle East to ensure the Palestinian people's legitimate national right to found a sovereign state. Israel launched "Operation Pillar of Defense" on November 14 in response to continual rocket fire from Gaza. The eight-day conflict has killed 164 Palestinians, including 43 children, and wounded more than 800 people, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. On the Israeli side, six people were killed by rockets fired from Gaza. Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip reached a ceasefire agreement on Wednesday to end eight days of fighting. Israel reportedly agreed to stop its military actions on air, land and sea, including targeted killings. Palestinians will stop launching missiles at Israel and attacks against soldiers across the border.