South Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Cuba

South Korea has established diplomatic relations with Cuba, a close ally of North Korea, Seoul said on Wednesday.

Cuba had long been the only country in Central and South America with no diplomatic ties with South Korea.

Their diplomatic relations are expected to expand South Korea’s diplomatic and business horizons, smoothing the way for Korean companies' foray into Latin America.

It comes as Pyeongyang is stepping up military maneuvers as Seoul, Washington and Tokyo are trying to solidify their trilateral diplomatic ties to counter the Russia, China and North Korea partnership.

Cuba has become the 193rd country with which South Korea has diplomatic ties.

In 1949, one year before the Korean War broke out, Cuba approved South Korea as a diplomatic partner but severed its exchanges with Seoul following Cuba’s socialist revolution in 1959.

Before COVID-19, about 14,000 South Koreans visited Cuba a year.

Syria is the only remaining United Nations member state having no diplomatic ties with South Korea.

Write to Dong-Hyun Kim at 3code@hankyung.com

Yeonhee Kim edited this article.