North Korea–Syria relations explained

Mission1:Embassy of Syria, Pyongyang
Mission2:Embassy of North Korea, Damascus

North Korea–Syria relations (Arabic: العلاقات السورية الكورية الشمالية|; Korean: 수리야-조선민주주의인민공화국 관계) have been very strong and close since the 1960s, when North Korea provided military assistance to Syria in its wars with Israel.[1] Both states maintain embassies in the other country's respective capitals.[2]

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. 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]

References

  1. News: Are North Koreans fighting in Syria? It's not as far-fetched as it sounds.. Taylor. Adam. 25 March 2016. The Washington Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20160803141404/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/25/are-north-koreans-fighting-in-syria-its-not-as-far-fetched-as-it-sounds/. 3 August 2016. live.
  2. News: A long way from Damascus: Life as Syria's ambassador to North Korea. O'Carroll. Chad. 31 January 2017. NK News. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203161957/https://www.nknews.org/2017/01/a-long-way-from-damascus-life-as-syrias-ambassador-to-north-korea/. 3 February 2017. live.
  3. Web site: In Kim Jong-il Death, an Extensive Intelligence Failure. Mark Landler, Choe Sang-hun. . 19 December 2011. 19 February 2015.
  4. Web site: North Korean leader offers support to Assad DW 20.11.2012. DW.COM. en-GB. 2019-08-20.
  5. Web site: Syria builds park in honor of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. UPI. Elizabeth. Shim. 2 September 2015.
  6. News: North Korea Seeks to Help Syria Rebuild Devastated Country, Report Says. 2019-05-02. Haaretz. 2019-08-20. en.
  7. Web site: North Korea interested in assisting with Syria's reconstruction: vice FM NK News - North Korea News. 2019-05-01. en-US. 2019-08-20.
  8. Web site: Syrian President intends to visit N. Korea, meet Kim Jong Un: KCNA NK News - North Korea News. 2018-06-03. en-US. 2019-08-20.
  9. Web site: If North Korea is helping Syria make chemical weapons, it's part of a long history of outlaw ties. February 27, 2018. Laura. King. Los Angeles Times. en-US. August 20, 2019.
  10. News: U.N. Links North Korea to Syria's Chemical Weapons Program. Schwirtz. Michael. 2018-02-27. The New York Times. 2019-08-20. en-US. 0362-4331.
  11. Web site: The Syrian-DPRK Joint Technical Committee Looks forward to the rehabilitation of engineering industries companies .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "North Korea–Syria relations".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.