Relationship dossier
South Korea
Syria
Relationship assessment
No formal diplomatic relations, amid South Korean sanctions and Syria’s close ties with North Korea.
South Korea toward Syria
-25South Korea aligned with international sanctions on the Syrian government during the Syrian conflict and supported measures directed at the Assad government. The extent of other direct South Korean government engagement with Syria is unclear.
Syria toward South Korea
-15Syria has maintained close military and political ties with North Korea, including cooperation with potential security implications for South Korea. Details of Syrian government conduct specifically directed toward South Korea are limited.
Overall relationship
-20The relationship is constrained by the absence of formal diplomatic relations and South Korea’s sanctions policy toward the Syrian government. Syria’s close relationship with North Korea adds a significant security-related strain, while the extent of direct bilateral engagement remains unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
South Korea and Syria have had no formal diplomatic relations. South Korea has aligned with international sanctions on the Syrian government and supported measures against it during the Syrian conflict. Syria's close military and political relationship with North Korea, including cooperation in areas relevant to regional security, has also contributed to a strained bilateral context. Details of direct government-to-government engagement are limited.
Areas of tension
- South Korean support for international sanctions targeting the Syrian government.
- Syria’s close political and military relationship with North Korea.
Key developments
South Korea aligned with international sanctions imposed on the Syrian government during the Syrian conflict.
Syria maintained close political and military ties with North Korea.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of South Korean assistance to Syrian opposition or humanitarian initiatives is unclear.
- Details and timing of Syria’s military cooperation with North Korea are uncertain.
- The scope of any direct official contacts between South Korea and Syria is unclear.