"The West and countries that support extremism and terrorism in Syria and the region... must realise that this growing threat will strike the whole world, especially the countries that support terrorism and that allowed it to grow," Assad told a North Korean delegation visiting Damascus.
Assad has frequently blamed the West, Turkey and Persian Gulf countries who back rebels seeking his overthrow for violence in Syria, AFP reported.
Assad and the North Korean delegation discussed "ways to expand cooperation in the economic sector and in reconstruction" in Syria, the report added.