North Korea, Syria Set to Hold Economic Talks in Damascus: State Media
Top DPRK economic official headed to Syria Thursday following deputy’s August visit
Colin Zwirko
December 5, 2019
The head of North Korea’s Ministry of External Economic Relations (MEER) Kim Yong Jae left Pyongyang for Syria on Thursday to hold economic talks, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim is leading a “DPRK government economic delegation to Syria to participate in the 11th meeting of the DPRK-Syria Joint Economic Committee,” the report said.
Both countries are heavily sanctioned by the U.S. — as well as the international community — through multiple UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
Kim Yong Jae’s schedule has so far yet to be released, though he was photographed at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Thursday by Yonhap News Agency.
His trip follows his deputy with the MEER Ri Myong San’s visit to Damascus in August where he discussed trade in a range of industrial goods with Syrian Ministry of Industry (MOI) head Mohammad Ma’an Zein al-Abiden Jazba.
These included, according to a report from the MOI at the time, the “development of the steel alloys industry with the General Company for Iron and Steel Products,” and the “manufacturing of silicon chips” for batteries and solar panels.
The two sides are also eyeing trade in pharmaceuticals, glass production, renewable energies, manufacturing machinery, CNC sewing machines, and Syrian textiles such as cotton, the MOI reported.
“The two sides agreed to continue enhancing cooperation … not delaying implementation any longer, and quickly starting planning for establishing projects, especially the outstanding ones,” it added.
North Korean officials were also in Damascus at the time to attend the 61st Damascus International Fair, which returned for the third consecutive year following a long hiatus due to the ongoing war in Syria.
The coming meeting of the DPRK-Syria Joint Economic Committee is likely to also follow up on the 10th meeting held in May 2018 in Pyongyang, where a protocol was signed between Kim Yong Jae and Syrian Finance Minister Mamoun Hamdan.
A KCNA readout of that meeting said the previous session was reviewed while the two “discussed ways for expanding economic, scientific and technological cooperation.”
In an exchange of letters last month with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad said that “some U.S.-led Western countries are resorting to the policy of controlling the decisions and wealth of the peoples of the independent countries including Syria and the DPRK,” according to KCNA.
“Bigger joint efforts and the cooperation among the friendly countries are needed to hold in check and frustrate the policy,” Assad reportedly said, adding that “more efforts will be exerted to boost the bilateral relations in conformity with the shared interests of the two friendly peoples.”
Syrian foreign minister Walid al-Moallem also visited Pyongyang in June this year to hold talks with his DPRK counterpart Ri Yong Ho, agreeing to enhance economic cooperation and exchanges in other areas.
Ri said in the course of those meetings, according to the Syrian foreign ministry, that “bilateral cooperation and self-reliance will help the two countries confront sanctions and embargoes.”
One potential such area, commonly raised in recent meetings, is North Korea’s apparent eagerness to get involved in helping rebuild war-torn Syria.
The Syrian foreign minister said following his trip that North Korea was ready to send workers “for construction and redevelopment,” despite the looming December 22 deadline under UNSC sanctions for all DPRK laborers abroad to be repatriated.
In a more recent development on the matter, the North Korean foreign ministry reported last month that DPRK ambassador to Damascus Mun Jong Nam met with Syrian Minister of Public Works and Housing Suhail Mohammad Abdullatif on November 5.
The report said the two discussed “putting the economic relations on a par with the excellent political relations between the two countries.”
“Construction holds a huge and important portion in the cooperation between the two countries,” the Syrian minister reportedly said, adding the now-common refrain that he expects the “fraternal DPRK would assume a big role in the reconstruction of Syria.”
Edited by Oliver Hotham
Colin Zwirko
December 5, 2019
The head of North Korea’s Ministry of External Economic Relations (MEER) Kim Yong Jae left Pyongyang for Syria on Thursday to hold economic talks, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim is leading a “DPRK government economic delegation to Syria to participate in the 11th meeting of the DPRK-Syria Joint Economic Committee,” the report said.
Both countries are heavily sanctioned by the U.S. — as well as the international community — through multiple UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
Kim Yong Jae’s schedule has so far yet to be released, though he was photographed at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Thursday by Yonhap News Agency.
His trip follows his deputy with the MEER Ri Myong San’s visit to Damascus in August where he discussed trade in a range of industrial goods with Syrian Ministry of Industry (MOI) head Mohammad Ma’an Zein al-Abiden Jazba.
These included, according to a report from the MOI at the time, the “development of the steel alloys industry with the General Company for Iron and Steel Products,” and the “manufacturing of silicon chips” for batteries and solar panels.
The two sides are also eyeing trade in pharmaceuticals, glass production, renewable energies, manufacturing machinery, CNC sewing machines, and Syrian textiles such as cotton, the MOI reported.
“The two sides agreed to continue enhancing cooperation … not delaying implementation any longer, and quickly starting planning for establishing projects, especially the outstanding ones,” it added.
North Korean officials were also in Damascus at the time to attend the 61st Damascus International Fair, which returned for the third consecutive year following a long hiatus due to the ongoing war in Syria.
The coming meeting of the DPRK-Syria Joint Economic Committee is likely to also follow up on the 10th meeting held in May 2018 in Pyongyang, where a protocol was signed between Kim Yong Jae and Syrian Finance Minister Mamoun Hamdan.
A KCNA readout of that meeting said the previous session was reviewed while the two “discussed ways for expanding economic, scientific and technological cooperation.”
In an exchange of letters last month with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad said that “some U.S.-led Western countries are resorting to the policy of controlling the decisions and wealth of the peoples of the independent countries including Syria and the DPRK,” according to KCNA.
“Bigger joint efforts and the cooperation among the friendly countries are needed to hold in check and frustrate the policy,” Assad reportedly said, adding that “more efforts will be exerted to boost the bilateral relations in conformity with the shared interests of the two friendly peoples.”
Syrian foreign minister Walid al-Moallem also visited Pyongyang in June this year to hold talks with his DPRK counterpart Ri Yong Ho, agreeing to enhance economic cooperation and exchanges in other areas.
Ri said in the course of those meetings, according to the Syrian foreign ministry, that “bilateral cooperation and self-reliance will help the two countries confront sanctions and embargoes.”
One potential such area, commonly raised in recent meetings, is North Korea’s apparent eagerness to get involved in helping rebuild war-torn Syria.
The Syrian foreign minister said following his trip that North Korea was ready to send workers “for construction and redevelopment,” despite the looming December 22 deadline under UNSC sanctions for all DPRK laborers abroad to be repatriated.
In a more recent development on the matter, the North Korean foreign ministry reported last month that DPRK ambassador to Damascus Mun Jong Nam met with Syrian Minister of Public Works and Housing Suhail Mohammad Abdullatif on November 5.
The report said the two discussed “putting the economic relations on a par with the excellent political relations between the two countries.”
“Construction holds a huge and important portion in the cooperation between the two countries,” the Syrian minister reportedly said, adding the now-common refrain that he expects the “fraternal DPRK would assume a big role in the reconstruction of Syria.”
Edited by Oliver Hotham
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