Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he wants to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to meet with its top leader Kim Jong Un, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Sunday.

File photo: CGTN

When receiving credentials from DPRK Ambassador Mun Jong Nam on May 30 in Damascus, Assad said Syria cherishes "the cornerstone of the historic relations between the two countries laid by President Kim Il Sung and former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad."

"I am going to visit the DPRK and meet HE (His Excellency) Kim Jong Un," he was quoted as saying by the KCNA, without specifying any date for such a visit.

DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un meets with Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in (not pictured) during their summit at the truce village of Panmunjom, DPRK, in this handout picture released by DPRK's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 27, 2018. Photo: Reuters

According to the report, the Syrian president also said that the world welcomes "the remarkable events in the Korean Peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political caliber and wise leadership of HE Kim Jong Un."

"I am sure that he will achieve the final victory and realize the reunification of Korea without fail," Assad said.

As it did in the past, the Syrian government will fully support all policies and measures of the DPRK leadership and invariably strengthen and develop its friendly ties with the DPRK, he was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on May 30, 2018 shows President Bashar al-Assad (L) receiving diplomatic credentials from DPRK's newly-appointed ambassador to Damascus, Mun Jong Nam, in the Syrian capital. /VCG Photo 

Pyongyang and Damascus maintain close ties, which date back to the 1970s.