Cuba’s new ambassador to North Korea has begun his duties, according to the North’s state media Thursday, as countries having friendly ties with North Korea have ramped up diplomatic activities in the secretive regime since the opening of its border.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was presented with the credentials of Cuban Ambassador Eduardo Luis Garcia Correa from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
The letter of credence was received by Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, on Wednesday upon the authorization of the North’s leader, it said.
North Korea and Cuba have long maintained a close relationship since they established their diplomatic relationship in 1960.
Since North Korea partially opened its border last year amid eased concerns over COVID-19, diplomatic missions of countries with close ties with North Korea have resumed activities in the North.
In September last year, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang was believed to have raised the number of its staff members. Nicaragua, a country considered to be standing against the United States, is believed to have a plan to open an embassy in North Korea soon.
In April 2023, China’s new ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, began his official duty after his arrival was delayed for years due to the North’s border shutdown. Earlier this week, Mongolia’s new top envoy to Pyongyang submitted a letter of credentials to the North.
Meanwhile, North Korea has shut down its diplomatic missions amid economic difficulties, raising the number of its closed embassies to 44, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry.
The North has pulled out of Hong Kong and Libya in recent months in the latest of a series of the shutdown of its diplomatic missions, including Angola, Nepal, Bangladesh, Spain and Uganda. (Yonhap)
