The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
North Korea
Sat, May 28, 2022 | 06:00
Syria's Assad to meet Kim Jong-un: KCNA [VIDEO]
Posted : 2018-06-04 11:55
Updated : 2018-06-04 13:31
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
People walk near a portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hanging in a street in the Syrian capital Damascus on May 31. / AFP-Yonhap
People walk near a portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hanging in a street in the Syrian capital Damascus on May 31. / AFP-Yonhap




Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he plans to visit North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday, potentially becoming the first head of state to meet Kim inside the isolated country.

I am going to visit the DPRK and meet... Kim Jong-un," Assad said, the North's state-run KCNA news agency reported, using the abbreviated version of the country's official name.

The announcement came as anticipation mounts for a historic nuclear summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, following a whirlwind round of diplomacy.

"The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political calibre and wise leadership of...Kim Jong-un," KCNA cited Assad as saying during a meeting with North Korean Ambassador Mun Jong-nam on Wednesday.

The Syrian president's office refused to comment on the report when
contacted by AFP.

Pyongyang and Damascus have maintained warm ties for decades and reportedly shared a military relationship for some years, including during the ongoing Syrian civil war.

Suspicions over chemical weapons trade between Pyongyang and Damascus have been raised in the past by the UN and South Korea.

There were also widespread reports that North Korea helped Syria build a
nuclear plant that was destroyed by Israeli bombing in 2007.

Both regimes have been the target of international isolation ― Pyongyang over its banned nuclear program and Damascus for atrocities committed during the seven-year civil war.

Since coming to power in 2011, Kim has not met another head of state in North Korea. He only made his first overseas trip as leader this year, travelling to China to meet President Xi Jinping, an ally of the reclusive regime. (AFP)


 
  • [SPECIAL REPORT] Asylum-seekers create Myanmartown from scratch in Bupyeong
  • S. Korean volunteer fighter in Ukraine returns home with knee injuries
  • Koreans ready to flock to Japan as tourism resumes in June
  • UN Security Council fails to pass N. Korea resolution due to opposition from China, Russia
  • Early voting for local elections kicks off
  • Presidential security team misplaces live bullets
  • Trade deficit feared to become long-lasting trend
  • Sex slavery activist Youn under fire for not sharing details of settlement with victims
  • POSCO Chemical, GM pick Quebec as site for $327 mil. joint cathode plant
  • WHO assembly slams Russian attacks on Ukraine health facilities
  • Disney+ original 'Kiss Sixth Sense' to offer high-spirited, fantasy rom-com Disney+ original 'Kiss Sixth Sense' to offer high-spirited, fantasy rom-com
  • [INTERVIEW] German professor hopes to boost appreciation for Korean traditional music [INTERVIEW] German professor hopes to boost appreciation for Korean traditional music
  • 'The Roundup' becomes most-watched Korean film in pandemic era 'The Roundup' becomes most-watched Korean film in pandemic era
  • [INTERVIEW] Korea needs more small-sized concert venues: Prof. Lee Gyu-tag [INTERVIEW] Korea needs more small-sized concert venues: Prof. Lee Gyu-tag
  • Korean films make splash at Cannes Film Festival Korean films make splash at Cannes Film Festival
DARKROOM
  • 75th Cannes Film Festival

    75th Cannes Film Festival

  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group