Breaking New Ground: Historic Encounter Between Korean and Cuban Foreign Ministers Marks New Era in Diplomatic Ties
South Korea and Cuba to Hold First Bilateral Meeting Since Establishing Diplomatic Ties
The foreign ministers of South Korea and Cuba are set to meet for the first time since the two countries established formal diplomatic ties in February. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla will hold a bilateral meeting in New York, USA on the 24th.
This meeting will take place on the occasion of the UN General Assembly, which is being held in New York from the 24th to the 30th. The meeting marks a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between Korea and Cuba, with the previous meeting having been held privately with the Cuban Foreign Minister Park Jin at the UN General Assembly in September of last year.
During the meeting, the two sides are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral relations and current issues, including the establishment of mutual resident missions. Korea and Cuba agreed to establish resident missions in each other’s countries in April. In May, the Cuban Embassy in China’s Minister-Counselor visited Korea to hold practical discussions on the establishment of the mission. A Korean agent was also dispatched to the Cuban capital of Havana in June to establish a temporary office.
The meeting is also expected to touch on North Korea issues, given Cuba’s close ties with North Korea. Last month, North Korea appointed Han Su-chol, a former deputy director of the Workers’ Party’s International Department, as the new ambassador to Cuba. His predecessor, former North Korean ambassador to Cuba Ma Chol-soo, was replaced just a month after South Korea and Cuba established diplomatic relations in March.
Minister Cho, who is leading the Korean government’s delegation to the UN General Assembly, is also scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on the 23rd. A Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers’ meeting is also planned.