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.
South Korea aims to delay new U.S. tariffs, prioritizing economic stability amid trade tensions. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok emphasized the importance of reducing uncertainty for export industries, while ongoing talks with the U.S. seek a mutually beneficial resolution.
South Korea and Vietnam agreed on Monday to deepen economic cooperation and accelerate joint efforts to mitigate the impact of looming U.S. tariffs, following a ministerial meeting in Hanoi.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol returned to his private home on Friday from the official residence after his removal from office, with crowds of supporters turning out to greet his motorcade.
The United States and South Korea have completed a joint naval exercise aimed at enhancing their shared capabilities in maritime salvage and rescue operations during both wartime and peacetime.
South Korea is moving fast to get out from under Washington’s sweeping new tariff regime. On Thursday, acting President Han Duck-soo said his government would press forward with talks to ease U.S. trade duties, calling the burden unsustainable.
Google plans to appeal parts of a recent U.S. court ruling that found it had unlawfully maintained monopoly power in parts of the online ad market, specifically in publisher ad servers and ad exchanges, while the court dismissed other antitrust claims.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has signaled that a nuclear agreement with the United States remains within reach, provided Washington adopts a realistic and constructive approach ahead of the second round of negotiations with the Trump administration.
The Kremlin said Friday that some progress has been made in peace talks over Ukraine, but described communication with the U.S. as complicated. Moscow cited a pause in energy strikes, though it claims Ukraine hasn’t fully observed the agreement.
A drone strike hit a bakery in Ukraine's Sumy city early Friday, killing one person. The bakery was preparing traditional Easter cakes as Christian communities marked Good Friday. Officials condemned the attack as targeting civilians and culture.
Police in Pakistan have detained nearly 180 people following a series of incidents involving KFC restaurants in several major cities.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran and Armenia conducted joint military exercises on April 9–10 along their shared border, focusing on counterterrorism reinforcing regional stability. The exercises involved high-level military personnel and were aimed at neutralising simulated terrorist threats targeting border checkpoints.
Russia’s defense ministry has accused Ukraine of carrying out four separate attacks on its energy facilities within a 24-hour period, alleging violations of a U.S.-brokered moratorium aimed at preventing strikes on each other’s critical energy infrastructure.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hold a May 15th hearing on Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, an executive move blocked by lower courts and now facing constitutional scrutiny under the 14th Amendment.
Sporting legends, rising stars, and international guests gathered in Madrid for the 24th Laureus World Sports Awards, where the global sporting community came together to celebrate a year of exceptional achievements, inspiring moments, and the unifying power of sport.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about ending the Russia-Ukraine war during a meeting with Italy’s Prime Minister, citing recent peace talk developments, though the U.S. warned efforts may end without signs of concrete progress.
South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday to attend the second hearing in his ongoing criminal trial, where he faces serious charges of insurrection.
Google plans to appeal parts of a recent U.S. court ruling that found it had unlawfully maintained monopoly power in parts of the online ad market, specifically in publisher ad servers and ad exchanges, while the court dismissed other antitrust claims.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has signaled that a nuclear agreement with the United States remains within reach, provided Washington adopts a realistic and constructive approach ahead of the second round of negotiations with the Trump administration.
The Kremlin said Friday that some progress has been made in peace talks over Ukraine, but described communication with the U.S. as complicated. Moscow cited a pause in energy strikes, though it claims Ukraine hasn’t fully observed the agreement.
A drone strike hit a bakery in Ukraine's Sumy city early Friday, killing one person. The bakery was preparing traditional Easter cakes as Christian communities marked Good Friday. Officials condemned the attack as targeting civilians and culture.
Police in Pakistan have detained nearly 180 people following a series of incidents involving KFC restaurants in several major cities.
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