Korea-Syria Official Diplomatic Relations Established... Diplomatic Ties with All 191 UN Member States Except North Korea

South Korea has officially established diplomatic relations with Syria. By finally establishing diplomatic ties with Syria, the only remaining non-diplomatic UN member state excluding North Korea, South Korea now has diplomatic relations with all 191 UN member states.

Minister Cho Tae-yeol and Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Al Shaibani are taking a commemorative photo after signing the "Joint Statement on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Korea and Syria" on the 10th (local time) in Damascus, the capital of Syria. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 11th, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol signed the "Joint Statement on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Korea and Syria" with Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Al Shaibani in Damascus, Syria, the day before (local time). The foreign ministers of both countries held talks and discussed the direction of bilateral relations after establishing diplomatic ties.

Minister Cho said, "The stability and prosperity of Syria are crucial for peace in the Middle East and, furthermore, global peace," adding, "We hope that cooperation between Korea and Syria based on the establishment of diplomatic relations will contribute to Syria's development and stability in the Middle East." He particularly explored the possibility of Korean companies participating in Syria's future national reconstruction process. He also stated that Korea would support Syria's response to the humanitarian crisis by providing humanitarian supplies such as medicines, medical devices, and rice.

In response, Minister Al Shaibani expressed his gratitude and said, "We look forward to Korea's support for easing sanctions against Syria," and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that he suggested continuing discussions on ways Korea could contribute to Syria's reconstruction in the future.

Syria had been under the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad's regime for 54 years and was a key ally often referred to as a "blood alliance" with North Korea. However, after the Assad regime was ousted in December last year and the interim government of the Sunni Islamist armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power, discussions on establishing diplomatic relations accelerated rapidly.

Minister Cho Tae-yeol is shaking hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the 10th (local time) in Damascus, the capital of Syria. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

During this visit, Minister Cho also paid a courtesy call on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Minister Cho congratulated the successful launch of the new government through an inclusive government formation following the ousting of the Assad regime, saying, "If Syria continues an inclusive political process, firmly responds to extremism, and meets the international community's demands such as chemical weapons removal, a favorable environment for Syria's reconstruction and sustainable economic development will be created."

President al-Sharaa welcomed the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Syria and said, "Korea's support is essential for the new start of Syria," adding, "Through this establishment of diplomatic ties, let us develop a friendly cooperative relationship that contributes to international peace between Korea and Syria."