Cuban Ambassador to North Korea Takes Charge, US Closely Monitors Pyongyang's Moves

Cuba's new ambassador to North Korea has arrived in Pyongyang to begin his duties, as countries with friendly ties to Pyongyang have stepped up diplomatic activities since the Northeast Asian nation reopened its borders following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Đại sứ Cuba tại Triều Tiên nhận nhiệm vụ, Mỹ theo dõi chặt động thái của Bình Nhưỡng. (Nguồn: KCNA)

Cuban Ambassador Luis Garcia Correa (left) presents his credentials to Choe Ryong-hae, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, on February 1. (Source: KCNA/Yonhap)

Yonhap quoted the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on February 1 as saying that Ambassador Eduardo Luis Garcia Correa handed over a letter of credentials from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to the leader of the Northeast Asian nation, Kim Jong-un.

North Korea and Cuba have long maintained close ties since establishing diplomatic relations in 1960.

According to Yonhap , most diplomatic missions in Pyongyang were closed due to Covid-19 in early 2020.

Cuba became the third country to send an ambassador to North Korea and present its credentials since last year, after China and Mongolia, when Pyongyang partially reopened its border.

Nicaragua is planning to open an embassy in North Korea soon.

Meanwhile, since the second half of last year, North Korea has closed nine diplomatic missions abroad. As of January 30, the total number of North Korean diplomatic missions abroad was 44.

Regarding the situation in North Korea, on the same day, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Vipin Narang revealed that Washington is monitoring the possibility of Pyongyang conducting its 7th nuclear test, while cooperating with Seoul to "effectively" manage tensions along the inter-Korean border.

In an interview with Yonhap news agency, Mr. Narang emphasized that the US and South Korea are "ready and prepared for all situations" in the context of increasingly serious military threats.

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