Bashar Al-Assad, president of Syria, said this when meeting Jang Myong Ho, DPRK ambassador to Syria, on June 9.

He said that the friendly relations between Syria and the DPRK were provided and developed by President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il. He went on:

I am pleased that the bilateral relations are invariably developing on good terms under the deep attention of HE leader Kim Jong Un.

We highly estimate the government and people of the DPRK for having firmly supported the Syrian people suffering difficulties.

The peoples of the two countries are comrades-in-arms and close friends fighting against the moves of hostile forces.

I am convinced that the relations between the two countries would grow stronger.