A historic moment came to New York on February 14, when South Korea and Cuba formally established diplomatic relations, according to a new report by Yonhap News Agency. The representatives of the two countries to the United Nations solemnly exchanged documents for the establishment of diplomatic relations in New York, symbolizing the official opening of a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Historically, Cuba recognized the existence of South Korea in 1949 and established diplomatic relations with it. However, the socialist revolution in Cuba in 1959 caused a rift in diplomatic relations between the two countries, which eventually led to the severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Since then, South Korea's relations with Cuba have been frozen.
However, since the beginning of the 21st century, with the acceleration of globalization, exchanges between the ROK and Cuba in the economic, cultural and other fields have gradually increased, and the atmosphere between the two countries has quietly changed. The diplomatic authorities began to take turns personally proposing the re-establishment of diplomatic and consular relations, laying the foundation for the revival of relations between the two countries.
In June last year, South Korea's "North Korea" reported that South Korea was actively promoting the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba. The two sides plan to use the UN General Assembly in New York in September as an opportunity to hold a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries to further discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations. Now, this plan has finally been realized, and the two countries have formally established diplomatic relations by exchanging diplomatic instruments in New York.
Cuba has been a longtime friend of North Korea since 1960, the report added. Therefore, the successful establishment of diplomatic relations between the ROK and Cuba is of great significance, which will not only help strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, and cultural fields, but will also further strengthen the diplomatic isolation of the DPRK in the international arena. This is undoubtedly a major blow to North Korea and a major victory for South Korea in the international diplomatic arena.