Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and his South Korean counterpart, Chung Eui-yong, signed an agreement to restore diplomatic relations between Syria and South Korea.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced via “X” today, Thursday, April 10, that al-Shibani signed the agreement with his South Korean counterpart.
This move comes without prior official announcement regarding the South Korean foreign minister’s visit to Damascus today.
It also marks the opening of a new chapter in the relations between the two countries after a break that lasted more than two decades, during which Bashar al-Assad chose to develop diplomatic relations with the northern part of Korea at the expense of the south.
On February 8, a South Korean diplomatic delegation visited Syria for the first time since 2003.
During that visit, the Syrian foreign minister discussed with Eun Jung Kim, the Director-General for African and Middle Eastern Affairs at the South Korean Foreign Ministry, the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Al-Shibani confirmed during his meeting with the South Korean official in Damascus that Syria is keen to open a new page and establish good relations with South Korea, serving the interests of both peoples and achieving security, prosperity, and peace for the Syrian people.
For her part, Eun Jung Kim expressed her country’s eagerness to restore diplomatic relations with Syria for the first time since 2003 and to provide support for rebuilding Syria, as well as for comprehensive political transition, economic recovery, humanitarian aid, and efforts to lift sanctions imposed on Syria.
Since 2004, South Korea has tried to advance diplomatic relations with Syria, which has been ruled by the Assad family and maintains an alliance with North Korea.
According to a report published by The Korea Times in 2009, the Seoul government proposed formalizing diplomatic relations with Syria in 2005, but the latter rejected the offer.
The Syrian rejection came due to Syria’s relationship with North Korea, which remains technically at war with South Korea, according to the newspaper.
According to the newspaper, the Korean government proposed in 2006 to establish a consulate in Syria, and Damascus was positive about this proposal.
Over the past years, Syria has not had diplomatic relations with South Korea, Israel, Kosovo, and Taiwan, while Damascus recognizes Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Western Sahara.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, Arab and Western diplomatic delegations have returned to Syria, many of which were from countries that had severed relations with Syria for more than a decade, at least.
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