South Korea Shocks North by Establishing Ties with Former Ally Syria

South Korea has officially established diplomatic relations with Syria, a country that was historically aligned with North Korea.

This move comes after the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the rise of a new Islamist government in Damascus. The establishment of ties marks a significant geopolitical shift and is seen as a diplomatic win for South Korea, potentially weakening North Korea’s influence in the region. With this agreement, South Korea now maintains diplomatic relations with all 191 United Nations member states.

The development underscores changing alliances in the Middle East and Asia.