North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho met with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday, with the two discussing bilateral relations and “American hostility”, according to a Syrian state media report published the same day.

According to the report, published by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikda and the Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban.

“President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday received Foreign Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ri Yong-ho and the accompanying delegation,”