Syria names park in capital after North Korea founder

Government inaugurates park in Damascus to honour North Korea's founding father Kim Il-Sung.


Syria deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad described Kim Il-Sung as a historic ruler

The opening ceremony on Monday, which came as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters battled rebels in a district in southern Damascus, was attended by deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad. He called Kim, described by rights organisations as a brutal dictator, "a historic ruler and leader, famous for his struggle to liberate and build his country".

"For this reason, he deserves to be honoured in Syria," Mikdad said.

In response to a question about the international community's criticism of the North Korean founder, Mikdad told AFP news agency that "whoever criticises (Kim) is absurd and stupid".

Mikdad also praised North Korea for "standing with Syria against terrorism". Mikdad asserted that the relations between Syria and North Korea are strong, lauding the Korean support for Syria in the face of "terrorism" and affirming the need to improve bilateral relations.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/syria-names-park-capital-korea-founder-150831194857490.html

Certainly one of the weirder stories you will ever see.