Syria Names a Park and Street After North Korea’s Founder Kim Il Sung
The naming of a park and street after North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung in the city of Damascus was held on Monday. It also celebrated the founding of the North's ruling political party - the Worker's Party of Korea. Kim Il Sung, supreme leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather, was North Korea's former leader for almost 25 years.
An article published on Monday by Business Insider stated that the inauguration served as the country's tribute to Kim's family. The Syrian-Korean Association, North Korean Embassy and Baath Party officials - Syria's ruling political party - attended the event. During the ceremony, they highlighted both nation's strong ties and support for each other.
The street and park in Syria was named after Kim as he was considered "a historic ruler and leader, famous for his struggle to liberate and build his country," as reported by Al Jazeera on Monday.
"For this reason, he deserves to be honored in Syria," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said.
Amid the celebration, Syria was still in a four-year civil war wherein forces showing support to Syrian President Bashar Assad were accountable for cruelties and attacks. The continuous tension involved militant extremists, such as Kurdish forces, the Islamic State Group and Jabhat al-Nusra.
Pyongyang's ambassador to Damascus, Jang Myong Ho, claimed that the civil war was stimulated by the U.S. and its dependent states.
Jang said he had "confidence that the Syrian Arab Army will emerge victorious." Mekdad, on the other hand, acknowledged the strong ties between Syria and North Korea, recognizing the country's support in battling terrorism.
Meanwhile, North Korea had been deemed unpredictable and secretive, as it isolated itself socially and - in some ways - economically from most countries for decades. Increasing tension between the two Koreas also ensued, resulting to artillery firing until high-ranking officials met to establish a mutual agreement.
