Syrian envoy sees US airfield attack as 'message' to N Korea

Syria’s ambassador to North Korea has strongly denounced the United States for launching a missile attack against a Syrian military air base in the western province of Homs last week, stressing that Washington's bid to send a "message" to Pyongyang through the raid was irresponsible.

Denouncing the US aggression and "history of interventions," Syrian Ambassador to North Korea Tammam Sulaiman said on Monday that Washington was wrong to send messages with attacks on other countries.

"Whatever they do, this is clear aggression. If they want to mention this they ought to do this as a message or whatever, it has no sense to talk about this," the Syrian diplomat said.

"Because what is sense is to see whether the US is really serious in finding solutions, whether in Syria or Korea. If they want to keep sending messages, then you are not talking with a responsible state or a responsible administration. It is not about giving messages, it is about taking a position," he added.

The Syrian ambassador was referring to the recent US attack on Shayrat Airfield in Syria's Homs Province with a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles, fired from two warships in the Mediterranean Sea, which caused some 15 fatalities, including civilians.

Pentagon's unprecedented offensive on the Syrian soil was conducted without any international authorization.

The remarks come after US Vice President Mike Pence warned North Korea on Monday that recent US strikes in Syria showed that the resolve of President Donald Trump should not be tested.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Syrian ambassador said that there was "nothing of military cooperation" between Damascus and Pyongyang.

The Syrian diplomat also stated that the "acquisition of nuclear weapons should not be a goal" for any country.

"But I can understand in the case of North Korea, I can understand why [it] is building its nuclear capabilities to face the American aggression, clear aggression."

During recent weeks, tensions between North Korea and the US have increased, raising fears of a potential military confrontation between the two sides. Washington has voiced concern over Pyongyang’s tests, but the North says such launches are an act of deterrence against a potential invasion by the US or South Korea.

On Sunday, Pence arrived in the South Korean capital Seoul, where he said his country's "era of strategic patience" with North Korea was over.

In a separate development on Monday, North Korea's official news agency KCNA carried a letter from leader Kim Jong-un to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad marking the 70th anniversary of Syria’s independence.

"I express again a strong support and alliance to the Syrian government and its people for its work of justice, condemning the United States’ recent violent invasive act against your country," read the letter.

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