Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lee Jae-woong on March 6 gives a briefing at Government Complex-Seoul in the city's Jongno-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Charles Audouin 

A tentative agreement on forming diplomatic ties with Syria has been reached.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lee Jaewoong on March 11 told a briefing at Government Complex-Seoul in the capital's Jongno-gu District, "Based on its principle of forming diplomatic relations with Syria, the government is pursuing related procedures."

For the first time in 22 years, a Korean delegation visited Syria from Feb. 4-7 and confirmed the interim Syrian government's willingness to form bilateral ties.

Syria's transitional government came after the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad, who had long-standing cooperation with North Korea.

If it forms ties with Syria like it did with Cuba last year, the country will have official relations with all 191 member states of the United Nations except North Korea.

caudouin@korea.kr