South Korea formally established relations with Syria on Thursday, marking the end of a decades-long diplomatic freeze stemming from Damascus’ long-time alliance with North Korea.

ROK Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani signed the joint communique establishing ties during a meeting in Damascus, according to Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The breakthrough comes amid a dramatic shift in Syria’s political landscape following the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar Assad by rebel forces in December, depriving Pyongyang of a key ally in the region.

The normalization also comes after Seoul established formal ties with Cuba last