North Korea keen to help Syrians to rebuild

A visiting North Korea delegation has expressed interest in helping Syria with reconstruction efforts.

Syrian agency Sana said North Korea’s vice-foreign minister, Pak Myong Guk, was in Damascus yesterday and was later expected to travel to Iran.

Syria and North Korea are longtime allies.

Deputy Syrian foreign minister Faysal Mikdad stressed the need for stronger bilateral co-operation in the face of western economic sanctions.

The war in Syria since 2011 has devastated the country and billions of dollars are believed needed to rebuild.

But Damascus is facing European and US sanctions because of the war.

North Korea is seeking to expand its commercial ties to reduce its reliance on China.