N. Korea confirms return of its ambassador to Cuba

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, right, meets with North Korean Ambassador to Cuba Ma Chol-su at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana in this photo captured from the president's X account, March 16. Yonhap

North Korea said Monday its ambassador to Cuba has paid a farewell visit to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel before concluding his mission in what marked Pyongyang's rare state media report on the Caribbean country after its surprise establishment of diplomatic ties with South Korea.

The meeting between Ambassador Ma Chol-su and Diaz-Canel took place Saturday, with the Cuban president expressing his will to continuously advance their traditional socialist ties and conveying a message of friendship to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

The report came after South Korea and Cuba forged formal diplomatic ties on Feb. 14 in a move that many speculated would deal a diplomatic blow to the North, which has long maintained brotherly ties with Cuba.

The North had stayed mum on the announcement and refrained from mentioning Cuba in its state media reports with the exception of a Feb. 15 news article on Cuba's criticism of Israel over its conflict with the Hamas militant group.

The KCNA did not provide further details on Ma's replacement.

It remains unclear whether Ma's return is a routine transfer or a decision affected by the establishment of South Korea-Cuba diplomatic ties.

Ma was appointed to the post in October 2018. He is reported to have received the Friendship Medal from the president during their meeting in recognition of his diplomatic service in Cuba for the past five years. (Yonhap)