South Korea’s Secret Diplomatic Mission to Cuba, North Korea’s Isolation Deepens

Students waving the Cuban flag./Yonhap News

Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se having his first official diplomatic meeting with Bruno Rodriguez, the Cuban Foreign Minister, at the Cuban Convention Palace on June 5, 2016./Yonhap News

The sudden announcement of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Cuba on the night of the 14th was reminiscent of a 007 operation. Establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, a brother country of North Korea, is considered the greatest diplomatic achievement since the diplomatic efforts with North Korea in the 1990s. However, as a large diplomatic ripple effect was expected, both countries had been conducting underwater dialogues for a long time. Cuba is the 193rd country to establish diplomatic relations with South Korea. With this establishment of diplomatic ties, only Syria remains a non-diplomatic country among UN member states.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 15th, the consensus on establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries began in 1996 when former President Kim Young Sam visited Central and South America. The proposal for formal diplomatic negotiations started in the early 2000s during the Kim Dae-jung administration. Considering the stance of Cuba, which has a friendly relationship with North Korea, the negotiation process was conducted confidentially to reach an agreement between the two countries with minimum interference.

Even within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the plan to announce the embargo was considered. Still, it was announced around 10:30 p.m. on the previous day (14th) as the situation could not be predicted until the last minute.

The discussion was tense, but it is said that diplomatic efforts have been made for 20 years at the longest or eight years at the shortest. During the Park Geun Hye administration in 2016, former Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se visited Cuba for the first time to promote the establishment of diplomatic relations, but there was no significant progress.

The lukewarm relationship took a rapid turn after the inauguration of the Yoon Suk Yeol government. From the beginning of the Yoon administration, the vision of a globally pivotal Korea was established, and the negotiations for diplomatic relations were actively pursued. In May last year, former Foreign Minister Park Jin met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Cuba in Guatemala and established a relationship. In September of the same year, he also held a private meeting with Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, the Foreign Minister of Cuba, during the UN General Assembly. Even during this meeting, it was said that the approach was cautious with North Korea in mind.

“This diplomatic establishment is the final straw in diplomacy against socialist countries, including former Eastern bloc countries that were friendly countries of North Korea,” a high-ranking official from the presidential office said. “North Korea is expected to suffer considerable political and psychological damage.”

This official evaluated, “This diplomatic establishment clearly shows what the trend is in the flow of history and who controls that trend.”

North Korea has become more isolated in the international community after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Cuba. As a result, the possibility of focusing on its relations with Russia seems to increase. Recently, after Russia’s staunch ally Belarus emphasized cooperation with North Korea, the North Korea-Russia-Belarus alliance opposing the United States is expected to become visible.