South Korea has decided to establish diplomatic relations with Syria, its last remaining non-recognized United Nations member state, marking a historic milestone in its foreign policy, government sources said on March 11.
The South Korean government recently reached an agreement with Syria’s interim government and plans to seek formal approval at an upcoming cabinet meeting.
With this move, South Korea will have diplomatic ties with all 191 UN member states except North Korea. Including three non-UN members—the Holy See, the Cook Islands, and Niue—Syria will become Seoul’s 194th diplomatic partner.
Syria has long been one of North Korea’s closest allies, receiving military and technical support, including ballistic missile and chemical weapons assistance. During the 1967 and 1973 Middle East wars, Pyongyang even dispatched fighter pilots to aid Damascus.
However, after more than a decade of civil war, President Bashar al-Assad’s regime was ousted in December 2024 by the rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The political shift created an opportunity for South Korea to establish ties with the new transitional government.
Last month, South Korea sent a delegation led by Kim Eun-jeong, director-general for the African and Middle Eastern Bureau of the foreign ministry, to explore diplomatic relations. The delegation met with Assad al-Shaibani, Syria’s interim foreign minister, in Damascus to discuss bilateral cooperation—the first official visit by South Korean officials to Syria in 22 years.
According to South Korea’s foreign ministry, the delegation assessed Syria’s political transition and conveyed Seoul’s support for the newly established government. Syrian officials reportedly welcomed diplomatic ties, even referencing South Korean dramas during discussions.
South Korea moved quickly to finalize the agreement, wary of potential interference from North Korea. With Syria’s interim government still in its early stages, Seoul saw a window of opportunity before Pyongyang could attempt to regain influence.
North Korean diplomats stationed in Damascus fled the country in December with Russian assistance after the Assad regime collapsed. However, with Russian envoys now returning to Syria, there is speculation that North Korea may attempt to reestablish its presence.
South Korea had previously attempted to normalize relations with Syria and Cuba after joining the UN in 1991 but faced resistance from Pyongyang. The breakthrough with Cuba in 2024 and now Syria reflects shifting geopolitical dynamics that have enabled Seoul to overcome past obstacles.
Syria has endured more than a decade of conflict since the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. The war culminated in December 2024 when HTS seized Damascus and ousted Assad. General Ahmed al-Sharaa now leads the interim government as acting president.
