N. Korea media cover Cuba’s diplomatic activities for 1st time since Seoul, Havana forge ties

North Korea's state media on Friday reported diplomatic activities at the Cuban Embassy in Pyongyang for the first time since Havana established diplomatic ties with South Korea in February. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) carried a report that in celebration of the 76th anniversary of the regime's founding slated for next week, a Cuban military attache delivered a flower basket and a congratulatory letter to the North's leader, Kim Jong-un. The KCNA has rarely covered news related to Cuba since Cuba forged diplomatic relations with South Korea on Feb. 14. The move was viewed as dealing a diplomatic blow to the North, which has long maintained brotherly ties with the Caribbean nation. Aside from the news of the North Korean ambassador to Cuba leaving his post and the mention of Cuba participating in arts festival in Pyongyang along with several other countries in April, there has been no news coverage on Cuba by the North's media. Aug. 29 marked the 64th anniversary of diplomatic relations between North Korea and Cuba, but unlike previous years, there were no reports of commemorative events or exchanges of congratulatory messages. However, it is widely believed that North Korea will find it difficult to continue treating Cuba coldly. Ri Il-gyu, a former counselor of political affairs at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba, said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency that North Korea will "never abandon" Cuba. Ri defected to South Korea with his family last November. Last month, North Korea appointed Han Su-chol as a new top envoy to Cuba, nearly five months after its former ambassador left the Caribbean nation Source: Yonhap News Agency