N. Korean, Syrian officials discuss further cooperation
Korean delegate visiting Damascus reaffirms his country's support for Syria's efforts to regain Golan Heights, says policies of aggression, hegemony are threat to world stability
Neither Choe Thae Bok, the speaker of North Korea's parliament, nor his Syrian hosts made any mention of suspicions in Western media that the two countries might be cooperating on a secret nuclear program. The suspicions grew after an Israeli airstrike on a target in Syria last month.
Choe held separate talks in Damascus with Abdullah al-Ahmar and Mohammed Saeed Bkheitan, both assistant heads of the Baath Party command.
His delegation also visited Quneitra, on the Syrian side of Golan Heights and reaffirmed North Korea's support for Syria's efforts to regain the territory Israel captured in the 1967 Six Day War, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.
In their meeting, Al-Ahmar and Choe discussed how "the policies of aggression, occupation and hegemony" were causing threats to security and stability in the region and world, SANA said.
The news agency said Choe also expressed support for Syria's efforts to "confront the external schemes surrounding the region." The report did not elaborate.
Choe's trip comes amid lingering suspicions that North Korea may be providing nuclear assistance to Syria.
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
