South Korea has officially established diplomatic relations with Syria, marking a significant milestone as it now maintains formal ties with all 191 United Nations member states. The agreement was signed Thursday in Damascus by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.
This move signals a major diplomatic shift, as Syria has long been aligned with North Korea, South Korea’s regional rival. The ministry stated that the new partnership “opens a new chapter for bilateral cooperation,” with a focus on rebuilding Syria and strengthening global engagement.
During his visit, Cho met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and expressed South Korea’s commitment to sharing its development experience to aid in Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
The normalization with Syria follows South Korea's diplomatic breakthrough with Cuba in 2023, another historical ally of North Korea. These recent efforts highlight Seoul’s strategic push to expand global relations and diminish Pyongyang’s sphere of influence.
North Korean state media, once vocal about Syria, has gone silent since the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December. Kim Jong Un has only made vague references to the “Middle East crisis” since then, reflecting Pyongyang’s fading ties in the region.
The foreign ministry emphasized the historic significance of the agreement, positioning South Korea as a fully connected global diplomatic player. This latest development could pave the way for increased cooperation in areas such as economic development, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction, further expanding South Korea's influence in the Middle East.