South Korea has formally established diplomatic ties with Syria’s new Islamic-led government a few months after the rebel coalition kicked out President Bashar al-Assad, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul visited Damascus on Thursday and signed a joint statement with his Syrian counterpart, Assad al-Shaibani, marking the formalization of bilateral relations.
In a statement, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the agreement paves the way for cooperation previously restricted by Syria’s “close ties with North Korea.”
Al Assad, who had long maintained close ties with North Korea, was overthrown in December by rebel attacks.
During the latest talks, Cho has expressed South Korea’s willingness to support Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction following more than 13 years of civil war. He showed that the reconstruction process could ultimately involve Korean businesses and humanitarian assistance.
According to the South Korean ministry, Al Shaibani has reportedly welcomed the offer and expressed his hope that Seoul will help ease Syria’s international sanctions.
The move has now maintained diplomatic relations with 191 UN member states, leaving North Korea alone in the cold.
When Seoul established diplomatic relations with Cuba last year, the South Korean government described it as a “political and psychological blow” to the north.
North Korean provincial media have not commented on its relationship with Syria, newly established in the South.
Links between Seoul and Pyongyang are low, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un continuing his nuclear weapons programme and deepening military ties with Russia, including supplying weapons and staff to use in wars in Ukraine.
