China continues to tread carefully in its approach to Syria’s new political reality, despite its potential to position itself as a central player in the country’s reconstruction efforts after years of devastating war.

For the first time in six decades, South Korea has officially stepped into Syria, marking a bold diplomatic shift in the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s fall.

North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine, in a move that Western leaders say will intensify the almost three-year war and jolt relations in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a rare visit, the leaders of North Korea and Russia met last week at a military base near the border, where they discussed ways to boost their cooperation in the face of mounting international pressure.

As the war in Ukraine rages on, North Korea welcomed high-level delegations from Russia and China this week to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.