B6 Cuba backs NKorea, calls for US ‘dialogue’

HAVANA: Cuba, one of North Korea’s few allies, called on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) for “peace and stability” in the Korean peninsula and stressed the need for dialogue to reduce tensions between Pyongyang and Washington.

Upon receiving his North Korean ing political solution be achieved,” counterpart Ri Yong-Ho in Havana, according to Cuban media. foreign affairs minister Bruno RodriIn the wake of President Trump’s guez said Cuba is “in favor of peace declaration of North Korea as a state and stability,” adding that “only after sponsor of terror on Monday, Rodridialogue and negotiations can a last- guez also rejected what he called the and dictates” on North Korea—insisting they served as a basis for “the application of coercive measures contrary to international law.”

Meanwhile, Ri blamed the “increased use of imperialist military force” for the worsening situation in the Korean peninsula, and stressed the importance of CubaNorth Korea relations as “two socialism-building countries.”

His visit comes as Pyongyang and Washington continue to clash over North Korea’s numerous ballistic missile and nuclear tests—while USCuba relations, re-established in 2015 after a 50-year stand-off, have also deteriorated under President Trump.

Trump in a speech at the United Nations, and expressed “strong support and solidarity with the Cuban government and people.”

In May, President Raul Castro also expressed Cuba’s solidarity with Pyongyang to visiting North Korean union leader Ju Yong-Gil.