Cuba, North Korea pledge to intensify relations
Cuba and North Korea last week announced their intention to develop relations “in all spheres,” according to the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), cited by the Russian news agency TASS.
The nature of the improved relations was discussed at a meeting Saturday (Dec. 3) in Santiago de Cuba between President Raúl Castro and Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae, a member of the Korean Presidium, who led his country’s delegation to the funeral for Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
According to KCNA, the two sides “reaffirmed their intention to maintain a close relationship” and vowed “to work together to fight against imperialism.”
“As never before, Cuba will make efforts toward the development of relations with North Korea, as established by the former leaders of the two countries,” Raúl Castro was quoted as saying, in a reference to his brother Fidel and Kim Il Sung, the late Korean leader.
Choe expressed support for the party, government and people of Cuba “in their fight in defense of the revolution and socialism to implement the ideas and policy of Fidel Castro.”
Havana first established ties with Pyongyang in 1960. It does not maintain relations with South Korea.
KCNA reported that the delegation led by Choe delivered a wreath from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a ceremony at the National Theater in Havana.
During his visit, Choe met with the highest-ranking Cuban political functionaries and military officers.
Through Choe, Raúl Castro thanked Kim, who visited the Cuban Embassy in Pyongyang on Nov. 29 and announced that his country would observe three days of mourning in honor of Fidel Castro.
According to a Japanese agency that monitors North Korean media, Castro is the first foreign political figure to be honored in such a manner since the death in 2004 of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
At the embassy, Kim signed a book of condolences and delivered to Ambassador Jesús Aise Sotolongo an official letter to Raúl Castro, in which he said, in part:
“Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz was an outstanding leader of the Cuban people who defended with honor the country’s sovereignty and dignity, established for the first time in the Western Hemisphere a socialist regime where the people is the true owner and devoted his entire life to the quest for the country’s prosperity and the people’s happiness, and a renowned statesman who made an outstanding contribution to the fulfillment of the independent anti-imperialist cause for socialism and justice.”
Kim also referred to Fidel Castro as “a dear friend and comrade of the Korean people who, for more than half a century, made every effort to strengthen and develop the relations of friendship and cooperation between our two parties, governments and peoples.”
The Cuban people, “under the wise direction of comrade Raúl Castro Ruz and in faithful observance of the purpose of comrade Fidel Castro Ruz during his life, will no doubt achieve the construction of the ideal society of the people, powerful and prosperous, and the victory of the cause of socialism,” Kim wrote.
[Photo at top of North Korean President Kim Jong Un being met at the Cuban Embassy in Pyongyang by Ambassador Jesús Aise Sotolongo.]
