North Korean Delegation Visits Cuba To Deepen Ties

A North Korean delegation headed by the Workers' Party's vice president and former foreign minister, Ri Su Yong, departed for Cuba Tuesday. 

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According to North Korea's Central News Agency, the visit aims to strengthen links between Pyongyang and Havana after the election of Miguel Diaz-Canel as president of Cuba by the People's Power National Assembly of Cuba in late April.

Shortly after Diaz Canel was sworn in the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent him a congratulatory message, which he replied to stating his wish to strengthen bilateral relations.

Ri Su Yong, who is heading the delegation, is considered to be one of the closest figures to the North Korean leader. He was ambassador to Switzerland when Kim Jong Un was studying there during his childhood.

A North Korean delegation also visited Cuba in late 2017, headed by the Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho when the United States and North Korean relations seemed to be at their lowest point.

Cuba and North Korea have maintained good diplomatic relations since they established them for the first time in 1960, shortly after the Cuban revolution.