South Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Syria, a North Korea ally

SEOUL - South Korea and Syria have signed an agreement in Damascus establishing diplomatic relations, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said on April 11, opening new ties with a traditional ally of its rival North Korea.

The event marks a milestone for South Korea now having established diplomatic ties with all 191 United Nations member states and opening “a new chapter for bilateral cooperation with Syria, which had long remained distant due to its close ties with North Korea”, the ministry said.

South Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba in 2024, another old ally of the North.

North Korea’s state media has ceased mentions of Syria since the

overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad in December, with the exception of

leader Kim Jong Un once referring to “the Middle East crisis” in passing.

A joint communique was signed by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani on April 10, and Mr Cho expressed willingness to share South Korea's development experience to support Syria's reconstruction, the ministry said.

Mr Cho later met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. REUTERS