North Korea–Syria relations

Bilateral relations

North Korea–Syria relations

North Korea |
Syria
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of North Korea, Damascus| Embassy of Syria, Pyongyang

Relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Ba'athist Syria (Arabic: العلاقات السورية الكورية الشمالية; Korean: 수리야-조선민주주의인민공화국 관계) had been very strong and close since the 1960s, when North Korea provided military assistance to the Syrian Ba'athist regime in its wars with Israel and were improved after the Assad family came into power in 1970.[1] Both states maintain embassies in the other country's respective capitals.[2] Ba'athist Syria did not establish diplomatic relations with South Korea.

## History

[edit]

North Korea built a nuclear reactor in Syria based on the design of its own reactor at Yongbyon, and North Korean officials traveled regularly to the site. The Syrian reactor was destroyed by Israel in an airstrike in 2007.[3] The United States signed the Iran, North Korea, Syria Nonproliferation Act in 2000.

In 2012, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed support for the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in face of a growing civil war.[4] In September 2015, the Syrian government paid tribute to Kim Il Sung in a ceremony for a new park in Damascus named in his honor.[5] In 2016, there were reports that North Korean Special Forces were fighting to defend the Syrian government in the Syrian Civil War.[1] North Korea also expressed interest in helping Syria in post-war reconstruction.[6][7] In 2018, Bashar al-Assad said that he will visit North Korea to meet with Kim Jong Un.[8] A United Nations report released in 2018 alleged that North Korea was helping Syria in developing chemical weapons.[9][10][11]

Following the collapse of the Assad family regime in December 2024, the future of the North Korean-Syrian relations is in doubt as North Korea's state media remained silent on the regime's collapse after the rebels took control of the country.[12] The North Korean Embassy in Syria was evacuated.[13]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Taylor, Adam (25 March 2016). "Are North Koreans fighting in Syria? It's not as far-fetched as it sounds". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016.
2. ^ O'Carroll, Chad (31 January 2017). "A long way from Damascus: Life as Syria's ambassador to North Korea". NK News. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017.
3. ^ Mark Landler, Choe Sang-hun (19 December 2011). "In Kim Jong-il Death, an Extensive Intelligence Failure". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
4. ^ "North Korean leader offers support to Assad | DW | 20.11.2012". DW.COM. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
5. ^ Shim, Elizabeth. "Syria builds park in honor of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung". UPI. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
6. ^ "North Korea Seeks to Help Syria Rebuild Devastated Country, Report Says". Haaretz. 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
7. ^ "North Korea interested in assisting with Syria's reconstruction: vice FM | NK News - North Korea News". 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
8. ^ "Syrian President intends to visit N. Korea, meet Kim Jong Un: KCNA | NK News - North Korea News". 2018-06-03. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
9. ^ King, Laura (February 27, 2018). "If North Korea is helping Syria make chemical weapons, it's part of a long history of outlaw ties". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
10. ^ Schwirtz, Michael (2018-02-27). "U.N. Links North Korea to Syria's Chemical Weapons Program". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
11. ^ "The Syrian-DPRK Joint Technical Committee Looks forward to the rehabilitation of engineering industries companies". Syrian Times.
12. ^ https://www.nknews.org/2024/12/with-assads-ouster-north-korea-loses-a-key-partner-in-the-middle-east/
13. ^ https://www.nknews.org/2024/12/smoke-and-secrets-inside-the-north-korean-embassys-hasty-flight-from-damascus/

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