Assad's Fall Renews Scrutiny On North Korea's Military Ties

By Nabilah Saleh

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- The fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has renewed attention on North Korea’s decades-long military ties with Damascus, which included arms supplies, missile development, and chemical weapons support.

According to former North Korean diplomat Ryu Hyeon Woo, Pyongyang played a key role in sustaining Assad’s military efforts, with involvement dating back to the 1960s.

“North Korea provided ‘cradle-to-grave’ support for Syria’s chemical weapons programme. They supplied weapons and components, constructed production facilities, and even sent advisers for technical training and operational support,” Ryu wrote.

Co-founder and Senior Fellow of the East Asian International Relations (EAIR) Caucus, based in Malaysia, Dr Hoo Chiew Ping, responding to the revelations in Ryu’s column, told Bernama that while North Korea had extensive military cooperation with Syria, their relationship was not a formal alliance.

“North Korea and Syria cooperated in nuclear and missile development, but external factors disrupted their projects,” she said.

Hoo said the collapse of Assad’s regime raises questions about whether North Korea will face diplomatic consequences for its involvement.

As Pyongyang reassesses its global position, it has strengthened ties with Russia, particularly through the Treaty of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in June 2024.

Beyond diplomatic realignments, North Korea’s military role has also been reported in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“Ukrainian forces have engaged in direct combat with North Korean troops in the Kursk region,” Hoo said, highlighting the widening scope of Pyongyang’s military activities.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya Security and International Relations analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat said Pyongyang’s next steps will largely depend on how Kim Jong Un positions himself with the incoming US administration.

“Trump’s presidency may be Kim’s last chance to secure a historic deal with Washington or risk further isolation. Any military provocations by Pyongyang will depend on the level of Russian and Chinese backing,” he said.

As North Korea faces increasing diplomatic and economic constraints, Chong noted that its future direction will be shaped by how it navigates its remaining alliances and geopolitical tensions.

Whether Pyongyang moves towards diplomacy or escalates tensions remains to be seen, but the fall of Assad marks a significant shift in the balance of power for one of the world’s most isolated regimes.

-- BERNAMA