AREQUIPA, Peru – South Korea opened its embassy in Cuba this weekend after months of preparations and almost a year of the two countries forging diplomatic relations.
The general director of Latin America and the Caribbean of the South Korean Foreign Ministry, Lee Joo Il, and the general director of Bilateral Affairs of the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Carlos M. Pereira, participated in the opening ceremony of the South Korean Embassy in Cuba.
A statement of the diplomatic headquarters in Havana in the Asian country reports that during the event “the common will to develop friendly ties and cooperation for the benefit of both countries” was reaffirmed.
The South Korean Embassy is located in the Havana neighborhood of Miramar, far from the diplomatic headquarters of Pyongyang, which occupies a mansion further east of the capital, in El Vedado.
According to the newspaper Korea TimesSouth Korea is expected to announce its ambassador to Cuba soon. He would be a career diplomat currently stationed in a Central American country who has been appointed to the position, after the Castro regime gave its consent to the appointment through an agreement.
Cuba has appointed Claudio Monzón Baeza as its main envoy in South Korea, who took office last week.
South Korea and Cuba made the surprise announcement on February 14 last year about establishing diplomatic relations, in an apparent significant blow to North Korea, which has boasted of its “fraternal” ties with Havana since the era of the Cold war.
Since the announcement, Seoul and Havana have been working to launch diplomatic missions in each other’s countries, with South Korea setting up a temporary office in Havana and sending diplomats as an interim step.
“We hope that the opening of the embassy improves convenience for our citizens residing in or visiting Cuba, by providing consular services and protection, and contributes to the expansion of bilateral exchanges and cooperation,” highlighted the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to ministry data, around 30 citizens of that country reside on the Island.
