South Korea has formally established diplomatic relations with Syria, closing a decades-long gap and opening a new chapter in its global diplomacy.
The South Korean foreign ministry confirmed the agreement on Friday, describing it as a “milestone moment” that brings the country’s diplomatic outreach full circle. With the signing, Seoul now has relations with all 191 U.N. member states.
The breakthrough comes after years of political distance, driven by Syria’s close alignment with North Korea. That alliance, once marked by regular exchanges and state media coverage, has faded in recent years. Since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, North Korea has made no direct mention of Syria, aside from a passing reference to “the Middle East crisis” by Kim Jong Un.
The diplomatic communique was signed in Damascus on Thursday by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Syrian representative Asaad al-Shibani.
Seoul said Minister Cho also met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, offering to share South Korea’s development expertise to support Syria’s post-war reconstruction.
The move mirrors Seoul’s recent diplomatic push. Last year, South Korea opened ties with Cuba, another longstanding ally of Pyongyang.
For South Korea, the agreement signals a strategic and symbolic shift, turning a former Cold War divide into a possible new space for cooperation.
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Ukraine has carried out one of its largest drone strikes of the war, reportedly hitting more than 40 Russian military aircraft at multiple air bases, a Ukrainian security official told Reuters on Sunday.
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Ukraine has outlined its formal negotiating framework ahead of planned peace talks with Russia, set to take place on June 2 in Istanbul, according to a full document seen by Reuters.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said on Sunday that he expects President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak soon in an effort to resolve a growing dispute over critical minerals.
As Germany considers providing long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, military experts warn the move could enable Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow — a shift that could escalate tensions and draw NATO closer to direct confrontation.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said on Sunday that he expects President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak soon in an effort to resolve a growing dispute over critical minerals.
As Germany considers providing long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, military experts warn the move could enable Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow — a shift that could escalate tensions and draw NATO closer to direct confrontation.
Ukraine has carried out one of its largest drone strikes of the war, reportedly hitting more than 40 Russian military aircraft at multiple air bases, a Ukrainian security official told Reuters on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Ukraine will attend a meeting in Istanbul on Monday, following a proposal from Russia.
Flash floods in central Nigeria have killed at least 151 people, with authorities warning the toll may rise further as search and rescue operations continue in the flood-ravaged town of Mokwa, Niger State.
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