Why Cuba Disappeared from the North Korean Media

The Korean Central News Agency mentions 26 countries except Cuba

After Korea’s sudden diplomatic relations with Cuba, North Korea’s “brother country,” coverage of Cuba has disappeared from North Korean media. This has led to interpretations that North Korea is expressing dissatisfaction by not reporting news about Cuba.

The last time the North Korean Workers’ Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun,  covered news about Cuba was the day after South Korea and Cuba established diplomatic relations, on the 15th. At that time, the newspaper briefly reported that Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez criticized Israel’s attack on Palestine, along with other international news, on page 6. No related news has been reported since then, up to the 25th.

The Rodong Sinmun has continuously reported news related to Cuba, including events at the Cuban embassy in North Korea, the activities of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and statements made by the Cuban ambassador at the UN.

The Korean Central News Agency also has not mentioned Cuba since the 6th. On the 82nd birthday of Kim Jong Il, the Chairman of the National Defense Commission (February 16, the Day of the Shining Star), celebrations were held at 26 overseas missions and the UN representative office, and many people visited to congratulate. However, Cuba was missing from the reports on the 23rd and 24th.

It is unusual for the Korean Central News Agency to omit Cuba when reporting on events held abroad on the day such as Kim Jong Il’s birthday, which North Korea commemorates as the “greatest national holiday.” In fact, there have been instances where they have reported on Cuban events separately.

Previously, South Korea and Cuba announced the establishment of diplomatic relations suddenly on the night of the 14th. A high-ranking official from the presidential office at the time evaluated that “it is inevitable that North Korea will suffer considerable political damage.” Since then, North Korea has shown moves to break out of diplomatic isolation, suggesting that if Japan makes a political decision, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida could visit Pyongyang.