North Korea: Undermining Peace in the Middle East

Authoritarian dictatorships have threatened and undermined regional peace in the Middle East, namely Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Russia provided substantial military support to sustain the Assad regime in Syria. However, it found itself helpless as the regime began to crumble due to Syria’s opposition forces. Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has drained its resources, impeding its effectiveness in Syria. Iran, which has long supported and led what is known as the "Axis of Resistance"—comprising Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen—has also been unable to respond effectively to Israel’s powerful counteroffensive. This inability signifies that Russia and Iran are finding it increasingly difficult to continue disrupting peace in the Middle East. This could be viewed as a positive development, potentially advancing peace in the region. Although the Syrian old regime collapsed due to Syria’s opposition forces and a new government is being established, the international community’s concerns and expectations are mixed. At this critical juncture, the transitional government of Syria needs to sever ties with another disruptor of Middle Eastern peace—North Korea—to garner international support and transition into a legitimate nation-state. Demonstrating concrete actions related to this disengagement both domestically and internationally will be crucial for advancing peace in Syria and beyond in the Middle East.

Uncovering the North Korean Regime’s Role in Disrupting World Peace

Since the division of the Korean Peninsula in 1945, the hereditary dictatorship of North Korea has been a primary disruptor of peace. In June 1950, North Korea illegally invaded South Korea, only to be repelled by United Nations’ forces. Despite the armistice signed in July 1953, North Korea has continued to undermine peace on the peninsula through numerous military provocations, which remain ongoing. Furthermore, North Korea has broken international commitments by illegally developing nuclear missiles, thus undermining peace not only in the Republic of Korea but globally. In February 2023, North Korea significantly contributed to international instability by supplying over ten million artillery shells and missiles to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, blatantly violating United Nations Security Council resolutions. Additionally, last year North Korea deployed 12,000 soldiers to support Russia's war of aggression, with over 3,000 casualties reported among these troops in the Kursk region of Russia. This deployment, supporting an unjust war, tragically leads to the senseless deaths of young North Korean soldiers.

In addition to other actions, the North Korean regime has continued to engage in actions that serve to disrupt peace in the Middle East, including transferring weapons and military expertise to Middle Eastern terrorist organizations. There was mounting evidence that Hamas used North Korean-made weapons, such as F-7 grenade launchers, during their surprise invasion of Israel in October 2023. Additionally, analyses suggest that the tunnels constructed by Hamas were based on technology that North Korea had initially transferred to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which was then passed on to Hamas. These findings further corroborate North Korea's significant involvement in undermining peace in the Middle East.

The close relationship between the hereditary dictatorships of the Syrian and North Korean Regimes

North Korea formally established diplomatic relations with Syria in 1966. During the Third Middle East War in 1967, North Korea supported Syria with weapons. Since Hafez al-Assad came to power through a coup in 1970, and later under his son Bashar al-Assad's regime, the two countries have maintained a close cooperative relationship for over fifty years. In the Fourth Middle East War of 1973, North Korea provided Syria with fighter pilots, military training instructors, and weaponry. It is reported that after visiting Pyongyang in 1974 and meeting with Kim Il-sung, Hafez al-Assad was inspired by the ubiquitous statues and portraits of Kim Il-sung throughout North Korea to erect stone effigies and hang artistic likenesses of himself upon returning to Syria. It is known that Hafez sought to learn from North Korea the techniques of idolizing a leader, treating Kim Il Sung as a deity-like figure.

Furthermore, North Korea has cooperated with Syria in the development of missiles and nuclear capabilities. In 1991, Syria purchased missiles from North Korea, and it is known that North Korea secretly supported the construction of Syria’s Al Kibar nuclear reactor. The facility was destroyed in 2007 by Israel’s 'Operation Orchard.' As the Syrian civil war continued from 2011, military cooperation between North Korea and Syria intensified, with North Korea supporting Syria’s use of chemical weapons against its own people. A 2018 report by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea revealed that North Korea and Syria had engaged in illegal trading of ballistic missiles, conventional arms, and dual-use components. Additionally, there were reports in November 2013 that North Korean fighter pilots participated in airstrikes against Syrian rebels.

Breaking Ties with North Korea: A Prerequisite for Peace in the Middle East

The Middle East stands at a pivotal juncture towards achieving peace, particularly evident in Syria, where a long-standing dictatorship of over fifty years has been dismantled, ushering in a newly formed government. The international community is observing the actions of the Syria’s opposition forces-led transitional government with apprehension. This concern was highlighted when the United States re-listed Syria, along with North Korea, Iran, and Cuba, as state sponsors of terrorism on December 12, 2024. For the Syrian transitional government to gain international support and recognition, it must first make the bold decision to sever ties with North Korea, a nation long associated with undermining the global order. By doing so, it will demonstrate a genuine commitment to freedom and peace.

MOON Seong-mook, 

Director of the Center for Unification Strategy, Korea Research Institute of National Strategy