March 19, 2024
Analysis

North Korea and Syria: A revamp in relations

Broadening, evolution in ties under way as Syrian civil war drags on

North Korea and Syria have a lot in common: both built on an ideology fusing nationalism and socialism, both ruled by a hereditary despotism which ensures the rule of only one family.

So it should come as no surprise that the countries have a history of friendship: Kim Il Sung and Hafez Al-Assad co-operated extensively on weapons and scientific exchanges, and Assad modelled much of his personality cult on that of North Korea.

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