South Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Syria

11/4/2025 6:19

South Korea and Syria have

signed an agreement in Damascus establishing diplomatic

relations, the South Korean foreign ministry said on Friday,

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 U.N. 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 South Korean foreign ministry said.



South Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba last

year, another old ally of the North.



North Korea's state media ceased mentions of Syria since the

overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December except

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 Syria's Asaad al-Shibani on Thursday,

and Cho expressed willingness to share South Korea's development

experience to support Syria's reconstruction, the ministry said.



Cho later met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, it said.