The history of friendship between Korea and Syria, forged and developed on the road of common struggle for independence against imperialism is associated with the dedication and immortal exploits of the preceding leaders of two countries.

Great President Kim Il Sung , before anyone else, supported the Syrian people who turned out in the war of justice against Israeli aggressors and sent pilots of the Korean People’s Army to fight in the same trench with them.

Five decades ago, he had the first significant meeting with President of the Syrian Arab Republic Hafez al-Assad during his visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from September 28 to October 2, 1974. The meeting marked a new milestone for further strengthening and developing militant unity and relations of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of two countries.

In the meeting and talks, President Kim Il Sung expressed firm solidarity with the fraternal Syrian people in their struggle against imperialism and Zionism to achieve independent development and territorial integrity of the country. He inspired confidence in victory that can smash any enemy once Arab peoples including the Syrian people are firmly united and turn out as one in the righteous cause.

President Hafez al-Assad expressed his reverence and gratitude for great President Kim Il Sung in the meeting.

He stressed that Syria would prioritize the development of relations with Korea and further strengthen it into a strategic one no matter what others might say.

The fraternal relationship that had been established with warm feeling and faith by the two leaders was carried on by Chairman Kim Jong Il .

The lasting friendship, solidarity and militant comradeship between the DPRK and Syria today are developing further thanks to the deep concern of respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and President Bashar Al-Assad.

In July 2013, when many foreign high-level delegations were visiting our country to join the celebration of the 60 th anniversary of our victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, respected Comrade Kim Jong Un met the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic led by the Deputy General Secretary of the Baath Arab Socialist Party before other delegations. He deepened friendship and expressed full support and solidarity to the Syrian people in their just struggle.

Indeed, the DPRK-Syria friendship saw no change or deviation while developing along the road of independence against imperialism in the face of complicated international situation. It has clearly demonstrated its solidity and invincibility before the world.

We are committed to promoting and expanding the friendly and cooperative relations and comradeship with Syria which stands on the same trench of anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. struggle. We will continue with our full support for the Syrian people to achieve independent development.